Visual Pollution.

I was mighty impressed when I read that in 2007 Sao Paulo’s right wing mayor Gilberto Kassab, banned outdoor advertising in the name of what he called “Visual Pollution”, his first move in a larger clean city law initiative. 

I thought such a law should come in Tamil Nadu too. The number of film posters and various other posters which we see on the walls of Chennai is appalling. Every time there is an election all the empty surfaces are stuck with posters or painted with an election message. Faces of politicians - everywhere you turn. Besides this the numerous billboards! They call it cut out. (I am not sure if cut out and billboard are same) Major users of billboards in Chennai are film makers and politicians. In Tamil Nadu the size of the cut out is directly proportional to the popularity of the film star or the politician. How absurd it is! Besides this they even stick posters or write election slogans on the pillars of all flyovers! They also have advertising surfaces on the government busses and taxis and even on the autos!!!

In addition to this many companies put their billboards in the name of brand communication. But they do not spoil the city as much as it is done by posters. But the place where they keep the billboards is very important because recently a high court order was required to remove the billboards from the area around Chennai airport as it obstructed the view of the run ways to the pilots while landing!

In short, our public empty surfaces have become a canvas on which anyone can write or post anything!

When I visited Madurai last month I was bombarded by numerous posters and billboards of Azhagiri everywhere. Looks as though he owns the entire city! Azhagiri auto stand, Azhagiri cycle stand, Azhagiri bus stand and Azhagiri everything! 

His brother has ventured on a program called “Singara Chennai” (Which attempts to make Chennai city beautiful) but he did not think it is important to ban posters and billboards in Chennai in this initiative of his. He does not understand the fact that if he can ban posters alone, Chennai will become 25% more beautiful! His initiative is commendable, but he needs to take care of this aspect too.

When T N Seshan was the CEC, he brought a rule that no contesting party should either stick a poster or paint on the walls their advertising campaign message. To some extent it reduced the menace during his times. But later on this rule is conveniently forgotten by the politicians.

Contrastingly this poster or billboard culture is not seen that much in Hyderabad city. Cinema posters can hardly be seen in Hyderabad. The space below the flyover is given to corporate houses for maintenance. No posters. No writings! It is clean and neat. These corporate houses maintain a garden with good illumination. It looks descent and civilized! Can’t Tamil Nadu government  learn from Hyderabadis?