Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal

Bantwal, Jan 29: The Bantwal Town Council, under the chairmanship of president B Vasu Poojary, has decided to take strict action against the rampant flex banner menace and unauthorized structures encroaching upon footpaths for commercial purposes along the national highway.

During the general meeting held on Wednesday, council member Hariprasad raised concerns regarding the lack of clear regulations on the installation of flex banners and demanded a clarification on the standards being followed. Senior member A Govinda Prabhu supported his statement.

Chief officer Rekha J Shetty responded that only banners made of cloth are permitted, while flex banners will be subject to specific guidelines. She announced that an awareness program would be conducted to educate manufacturers on the rules. Additionally, all flex banners and unauthorized commercial structures causing obstructions on highways, roads, and footpaths will be removed. A ‘Garuda Operation’ will be launched from February 1 to implement these measures, and the cooperation of the public and town council members has been sought.

Members, cutting across party lines, expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of implementation of decisions regarding the drinking water pipeline despite extensive discussions in previous special meetings.

Responding to a letter from council member Devadas Shetty regarding the non-functioning bus stand at Kotramanagundi, president Vasu Poojary assured that steps would be taken to ensure buses halt at the designated stop with police cooperation.

The meeting saw active participation from members P Ramakrishna Alva, Mohammad Sharif, Janardhan Chandtimar, Zeenath Firoz, Mohammad Nandarabettu, Siddique Guddeyangadi, Luqman Bantwal, Vidyavati Pramod Kumar, Idrees P J, and others. Vice president Moneesh Ali was also present on the dais.