Naidu Orders Removal Of Cut-Outs From Public Spaces

With the number of accidents and traffic congestion increasing in the state, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to shift unauthorized statues, and to remove cut-outs and flexis, that were causing disturbances to commuters.

Most of the unauthorized statues and cut-outs in the state were found to be on pavements and sideways, and in public spaces.

The Chief Minister ordered officials to ensure that the statues were shifted and that the cut-outs of associations and political parties (irrespective of the party in question) were removed to ease the flow of traffic.

He added that the statues of national leaders could be shifted to the compounds of government institutions.

Explaining that the Supreme Court had given orders on 18-1-2013 to take out unnecessary flexis and shift statues, he mentioned that the state government had then issued a GO following the apex court's orders. The High Court too had recently given orders to remove them before February 5th in both the new states, following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed with it.

Given that the Chief Secretary had received the orders only on February 3rd, he had requested the Court, on behalf of the government of Andhra Pradesh, to grant some more time to take action.

The Chief Minister has asked officials to alert the various Collectors to identify these statues, cut-outs and flexis, and convince people of the communities to shift them to private spaces within 15 days.

He said that the district officials including those from the R&B, Panchayat Raj, Municipal Administration and Police departments should take the onus of making the public aware of the Supreme Court and High Court orders. (INN)