After ministers, KSWDC posing flex threat

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: First, it was the new Ministers. Now, it is the turn of the Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation (KSWDC) to pose a threat to  motorists on the city roads with an array of flex boards that adorn the lamp poles and trees along the LMS-Vellayambalam road. The flex boards depicting the portraits of various political and cultural leaders, including Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and poet and social activist Sugathakumari, have been put up as part of the promotion of the programme scheduled for Monday here to release the new logo of KSWDC. Besides the LMS - Vellayambalam road, the flex boards of KSWDC are seen on other city roads too. The authorities of Thiruvananthapuram Road Development Company Limited (TRDCL), who are responsible for the maintenance of the roads, are unable to take action since the rules are broken by none other than those who rule the State. For the past two weeks, the flex boards, congratulating the UDF Ministers, had been occupying the lamp poles and trees along the road, posing danger.  The TRDCL authorities had requested the DCC to remove them as soon as possible, pointing out that a ban existed on putting up posters, placards and flex boards along the road, according to the Kerala Road Safety Authority Act. But the reply they got was that the posters would remain there until the rest of the Ministers were sworn in. However, the flex boards lay untouched for six more days. As if they were waiting for the DCC to act, the KSWDC hoisted their placards soon after those of the UDF Ministers were removed. The irony was that one of the flex boards, that were put up defying the law, even showed the image of a law enforcer herself - Inspector General B Sandhya, on it. When contacted, the TRDCL authorities said that no one had approached them seeking permission to put up the flex boards.  "Even if they had sought permission, we would not have allowed it, since it is clearly against the law," said Anil Kumar Pandala, vice-president of TRDCL. With the intensity of traffic on the road about to multiply owing to the reopening of the schools, the flex boards, that are mounted at a dangerously low height, are sure to invite danger, he said.