Mangaluru : Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) will act tough against the use of flex boards, plastic banners and buntings in the city. The civic body has warned of booking criminal cases against the violators.

It has been a common practice for people to put up flex, banners, buntings, hoardings, cut-outs, signboards and hoardings welcoming devotees for their festivals. Various organisations, institutions and individuals put up publicity materials in public places during Ganesha Chaturthi, Krishnashtami and Manglauru Dasara. Such materials are usually put up at major junctions, disfiguring the area.

Taking serious note of such visual pollution, MCC issued a circular, directing revenue officials to strictly enforce the plastic ban and the provisions under The Karnataka Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act. “We have decided to file criminal cases against those who illegally put up flex, banners, hoardings, cut-outs, buntings, signboards and hoardings,” said MCC commissioner Mohammed Nazeer.

The commissioner added that a decision in this regard has been taken to keep the city plastic-free. “We have been noticing organisers, cinema producers, and social, religious and political organisations putting up their publicity materials in the city. As a result, the city is losing its beauty, which is a setback for the Swachh Manglauru concept. Hence, we will launch a drive against all such illegal publicity materials. MCC officials will take measures to remove such materials and penalise the organisers. Violators will also be booked under criminal cases,” Nazeer said.