Bhubaneswar: Taking note of the directive of the State Election Commission (SEC), Odisha, the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has asked the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP) under the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to stop advertisements relating to Swachh Bharat Mission in all Odia TV channels with immediate effect.
“Besides, the Doodarshan (DD) has been asked not to air any government advertisement,” the Ministry said in a letter to the SEC.
Notably, the SEC on Wednesday had asked the Centre and the Odisha government to stop display and publication of advertisements at the cost of public exchequer in public and the media as they grossly violate the model code of conduct which is in force in the state for the ensuing Panchayat polls scheduled to be held in mid-February.
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The Commission had written a letter to Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to immediately stop advertisements on Atal Jyoti Yojana. Besides, it had also written a letter to the secretaries of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution to stop giving advertisements in the media with immediate effect.
This apart, the Commission has also asked all district collectors of the state to remove hoardings and posters highlighting welfare programmes of the state government from public places.
The Commission took the step after receiving allegations from the ruling BJD and the Opposition parties on violation of model code of conduct for the Panchayat polls.