Mysuru: The Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) is preparing to make the core city area free of unauthorised flex banners ahead of Dasara, following its recent drive to clear 80 garbage-vulnerable points across the city.

The civic body is expected to issue an order soon restricting the use of flex banners in the core areas of Mysuru, with the objective of protecting the heritage character and visual appeal of the cultural capital of Karnataka.

MCC Commissioner M K Savitha said flex banners had not been permitted during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit and indicated that similar restrictions would be extended to the core city area.

Flexes to be restricted in core city

Savitha said the civic body was working on an order to restrict flexes in the core areas of Mysuru while allowing advertisements for short periods at designated locations outside the core city.

“We have not allowed flexes during PM Narendra Modi’s visit. In order to maintain the heritage nature and charm of the cultural capital of the State-Mysuru, we are coming up with an order soon to restrict flexes in the core city area,” she said.

Under the proposed arrangement, advertisements permitted outside the core area would have to follow specified conditions.

The MCC is also considering an alternative to PVC flex by encouraging the use of khadi cloth banners and organic dyes. The move is aimed at reducing the environmental impact associated with PVC flex while providing an alternative material for temporary advertising.

Savitha said strict action would be initiated against violators under the Karnataka Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1981, and the Karnataka Municipalities Act, 1964.

MCC handles 300 kg of flex waste daily

The scale of the problem remains significant despite existing restrictions on unauthorised banners.

An MCC staff member said flexes put up at locations other than designated points are illegal, but removing them has proved challenging.

According to the civic body, around 300 kg of flex waste is collected and disposed of every day.

The staff member said workers involved in removing unauthorised flexes sometimes face pressure from those who installed the banners, particularly when advertisers demand compensation for the cost of the material.

“There have been instances of pressure from influential people,” the staff member said, highlighting the difficulties faced by civic workers while enforcing the restrictions.

The issue is expected to become more prominent ahead of the Mysuru Dasara celebrations, when the city witnesses increased movement of visitors and a rise in temporary advertisements, decorations and promotional material.

Citizens’ group submits representation

Members of the Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) have also approached the MCC seeking action against the growing use of flex banners.

A representation signed by MGP founding working president Bhamy V Shenoy, Sudhir Vombatkere, Roy Joseph and Ravi Bale was submitted to Commissioner M K Savitha.

Ravi Bale said elected representatives could play an important role in discouraging the proliferation of PVC flexes in public spaces.

“How can things work if the lawmakers themselves fail to follow the rules?” he asked.

Bale said the Chief Minister and several Members of Parliament had previously spoken about reducing the use of flexes, but claimed that some local elected representatives continued to use them.

He suggested that public figures could encourage residents, including young people who put up banners to celebrate birthdays or express admiration for local leaders, to adopt more environmentally responsible alternatives.

According to Bale, public figures could instead use social media to communicate with people and build goodwill through public welfare activities, cleanliness drives, protection of water bodies and tree planting.

He also stressed the need to ensure that MCC officials and workers are able to enforce civic regulations without pressure or threats.

MGP threatens protests and PIL

Bhamy V Shenoy said the MGP would intensify its efforts to curb the use of flex banners in Mysuru.

He said the organisation was prepared to launch protests and, if necessary, approach the courts through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to seek stronger action against the use of flexes.

The group has argued that the issue is not merely one of visual pollution but also involves the disposal and environmental impact of PVC-based advertising material.

With Dasara approaching, civic authorities are likely to face increased pressure to regulate banners and other forms of outdoor advertising while ensuring that Mysuru’s heritage areas remain free from visual clutter.

Experts flag environmental concerns

Experts have also raised concerns over the composition and disposal of PVC flex banners.

M S Vijaya Kumar, associate professor of Polymer Science and Technology and Chemistry at JSS Science and Technology University, said flex materials are generally made using composite materials that include PVC, stabilisers, plasticisers, additives and polyester fabrics.

He said certain dyes and additives used in such materials can pose environmental concerns when flexes are improperly disposed of.

According to him, exposure to weather can result in substances from the material entering soil and water. Burning PVC-based material can also produce hazardous emissions, making open burning an unsafe method of disposal.

He further pointed out that PVC is resistant to natural degradation and can persist for a long period, while fragmentation can contribute to microplastic pollution.

Plasticisers and other additives can migrate from plastic materials over time, potentially contributing to soil and groundwater contamination, he explained.

The expert’s comments underline the importance of proper collection and disposal of flex waste, particularly in a city generating hundreds of kilograms of such waste each day.

Health concerns linked to improper disposal

Physician Dr Sanjeev Rao Girimaji also highlighted potential health concerns associated with prolonged exposure to pollutants generated from improperly handled PVC materials.

He said recurrent exposure to toxic substances, including dioxins that can be produced when PVC is burned, may have adverse health effects. He also pointed to potential indirect exposure when contaminants enter soil and water and subsequently affect crops or livestock.

He said microplastics and other contaminants can enter the human body through environmental and food pathways, with potential implications for long-term health.

The health and environmental concerns have added another dimension to the debate over flex banners in Mysuru.

Dasara deadline adds urgency

The proposed restrictions come at a time when Mysuru is preparing for the annual Dasara celebrations, one of the city’s biggest cultural and tourism events.

The MCC’s plan seeks to combine restrictions on flex banners in the core city with designated spaces for temporary advertisements outside the restricted area. The proposed use of khadi cloth and organic dyes could provide advertisers with an alternative while reducing dependence on PVC-based flex material.

The success of the initiative, however, will depend on consistent enforcement and cooperation from advertisers, political representatives, businesses and members of the public.

The civic body has already demonstrated its focus on cleaning up public spaces by clearing 80 garbage-vulnerable points. Its proposed flex-free core city initiative represents another attempt to improve the appearance of Mysuru while addressing concerns over plastic waste and improper disposal.

With Dasara approaching, the MCC’s forthcoming order and its enforcement could determine how effectively Mysuru balances temporary advertising requirements with the preservation of its heritage character and environmental concerns.