Team Herald
PANJIM: The Electricity Department has issued show-cause notices to multiple internet and cable service providers, imposing hefty fines on two companies for using electricity poles to string their cables without authorisation.
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The companies have been granted a 15-day period to either register with the department and properly organise their cables or remove them. Fines amounting to Rs 3.45 crore and Rs 1.80 crore have been imposed on Jio Digital Fibre Pvt Ltd and BLITS Global Technologies Pvt Ltd, respectively.
Speaking to reporters, Electricity Department Executive Engineer Kashinath Shetye said, “We had issued a public notice granting ten days for the removal of cables. The High Court also directed cable operators to submit applications to us so that we could decide on them. Upon reviewing these applications, we found that the operators had not paid fees for nearly five years. We have included the outstanding fees and compensation for this period and have subsequently dismissed their applications.”
He further stated, “We have rejected the applications as there is no provision for the regularisation of these cables. Jio Digital Fibre Pvt Ltd has been ordered to pay Rs 3.45 crore, while BLITS Global Technologies Pvt Ltd has been directed to pay Rs 1.80 crore.”
“Besides the penalty, we issued show cause notices separately asking them to pull down the cables within 15 days. If they fail to comply then the Electricity Dept will be compelled to cut the cables,” said Shetye.
Shetye said that “the power department officials from the JE, AE and EE will also be held accountable and penalised Rs 300 per day if the cables are not removed within the stipulated time.
The official confirmed that around 50 applications have been received but reiterated that all overhead wiring remains illegal, as no permissions have been granted for such installations.
