Team Herald
PANJIM: In a significant ruling on Wednesday, the High Court of Bombay at Goa dismissed a Civil Application filed by the Goa Cable TV Networking and Service Providers Association, allowing the Electricity Department to proceed with the removal of illegally strung cables on electricity poles across.
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The court also noted that the unsightly cables had not only marred the appearance of the city but had also posed a threat to public safety in several instances.
The Goa Cable TV Networking and Service Providers Association had requested the court for protection from the ongoing cable removal operations, arguing that the cables were essential for their business and subscriber connectivity. However, the court rejected their plea, stating that the operators had not applied for the necessary permissions to string the wires. The court further granted the Association the liberty to apply for permissions under new government rules, which came into effect on
January 1.
“The operators have neither applied for the required permissions nor obtained approval for the cables,” the court observed, aligning with the Government’s stance that it would not support actions that violate legal norms.
In response to the ruling, Electricity Department Executive Engineer Kashinath Shetye stated, “Till now, we haven’t received any fresh applications from cable operators as they lack GIS mapping and the necessary permissions. We began our process of removing cables to recoup losses we have been facing since 2020. We can no longer bear these losses. Further actions will be taken as per government
instructions.”
The Electricity Department had previously halted cable removal operations, but with the court’s decision, it is now free to continue the work of removing cables that have been strung without proper authorisation. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are now left with little choice but to apply for fresh permissions, pay the necessary fees and fines, and ensure that their services remain operational.
