Despite repeated High Court directives and government orders against the erection of illegal flex boards, hoarding, flags, and banners in public places such as the road margins and medians by political parties and others, only ₹53,510 has been collected as fines and prosecution has been initiated in just 10 cases in Ernakulam district in the ten-month period till this October-end.
This was just a fraction of ₹4.54 lakh imposed as fine across Kochi Corporation, 13 municipalities and 82 panchayats in the district during the period. While the Corporation imposed ₹70,000 and collected ₹25,500, only ₹1,510 has been collected from across 13 municipalities against the total fine imposed of ₹3.43 lakh. Eighty-two panchayats accounted for a total fine of only ₹41,140 of which ₹26,500 alone has been collected.
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