Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Beginning in Panaji, the Goa Electricity Department has begun to take action against unapproved cables on power poles.
Executive Engineer Kashinath Shetye gave all operators until January 31 to either remove their wires from the poles or pay the department the necessary costs during a meeting on Monday.
Beginning over the weekend in the capital city, the action had a significant impact on cable and internet services, including news networks.
In order to regularize the wires installed on the electrical poles, internet companies had addressed the department of energy and asked for more time.
“Operators have been given a 15-day window to pay their dues and regularize their presence on the poles, or face further action,” Shetye said. Since cable operators and internet businesses have not paid fees for the past two years, causing a loss for the state exchequer, he added, electrical department offices around Goa will start enforcing the law.
In accordance with the information technology policy, operators must pay Rs 300 annually for each pole in order to use the services. Shetye went on to explain that cables must be run underground whenever there are subterranean cables present; they cannot be placed on poles.
He also stressed that the department will start removing the cables from the poles by February 1 since they have been making it difficult for employees of the power department to make repairs or maintenance.
