MARGAO: Responding to citizens’ concerns, a high-level team of BSNL officials visited Cuncolim to address the repercussions of optic fibre cable damage caused by Electricity Department’s contract staff while digging for underground cabling work.
The damage to the cable had disrupted internet connectivity for BSNL fibre-to-home subscribers in Cuncolim.
Lorna Fernandes, representing the Cuncolim Consumers Forum, disclosed that the BSNL team included Basavaraj, DGM Transmission; Raguvir Parab, Divisional Engineer Transmission; Ganesh, Sub Div Engg Transmission; and Sandeep Chaudhary, JTO, South Goa Fibre Optic Cable Transmission.
On February 20, the optic fibre cable was severed around 8.35 pm, with restoration efforts completed by BSNL engineers on February 21, rerouting connections via Sanvordem to restore services to Cuncolim customers.
However, the responsible party for the cable damage near KTC Bus Stand-Cuncolim has yet to be identified, as the individuals involved have abandoned the site, claimed Fernandes.
She added that it has come to light that the Electricity Department contractor did not seek permission from PWD to dig trenches along the highway in Cuncolim for laying underground electricity cables.
On the night of February 23, upon questioning by PWD officials regarding digging permissions, the contractor’s staff left the site with their equipment. Additionally, the Reliance Jio OFC was also damaged by the electricity department contractors’ staff.
Fernandes personally visited the site and urged BSNL officials to file an official complaint against the Electricity Department contractor and issue a demand note to recover losses. CCCF also appealed to Rajiv Samant, SE (South) of the Electricity Department, to assign department engineers to assist the BSNL team in Cuncolim.
Previously, CCCF had met with BSNL Principal General Manager (PGM) S.K. Chaudhary in Panjim, requesting him to approach South Goa District Collector Asvin Chandru A, IAS, to convene a joint meeting of all concerned departments to prevent future damage to OFC infrastructure.
