Thodupuzha: In a remarkable act of civic responsibility, Sinu Jose, a local public servant from Karimannoor, has won a hard-fought victory against the defacing of public spaces. His one-man fight resulted in the removal of illegal posters at the Karimannoor Junction bus waiting area, and even saw those responsible being fined.

The bus stop at Karimannoor Junction, in Idukki district, had become a hotspot for posters and banners, disrupting the aesthetic and cleanliness of the area. Despite existing laws against the placement of boards and banners in public places, the issue of posters was largely ignored by local authorities, with many feeling helpless about tackling the problem.

Sinu Jose takes a stand

Frustrated by the lack of action, Sinu Jose decided to take matters into his own hands. He initiated a fight against public property defacement, starting with a complaint to Malinya Muktham Nava Keralam (Waste-Free New Kerala) via WhatsApp. He also made a formal complaint to the Karimannoor Panchayat through the K Smart platform, urging legal action for what he described as visual pollution and the destruction of public property.

Initially, the response from the government was that visual pollution was not covered under existing laws, and therefore, no legal action could be taken. But Sinu, undeterred, escalated the issue by sending a formal complaint to the District Collector and the Police Chief.

On the instructions of the District Police Chief, the Karimannoor Police  served a notice to the Panchayat Secretary, urging action against the defacement. Although visual pollution was not explicitly recognised in law, the Panchayat found an alternative route by charging the violators under the law against polluting public spaces.

Posters removed, fines imposed

The posters were swiftly removed, and the waiting area cleaned. The Karimannoor Panchayat also found the individuals responsible for the defacement and issued them a fine of Rs 3000 each, including several political parties.

Sinu Jose is now advocating for legal provisions against visual pollution to be included in the Panchayat Raj Act.