CURCHOREM: All the services of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) including mobile phone, fixed lines, internet have been disrupted since Monday after underground cable were damaged by Public Works Department (PWD) while repairing water pipeline, opposite to Primary Health Centre, Quepem.
The damage resulted in disruption of various services at many public institutions such as banks, educational, municipalities, panchayat offices in Quepem, Curchorem, Sanguem and Sanvordem areas due to non-connectivity of internet.
On Tuesday many BSNL affected customers including parents and students were seen at Curchorem telephone exchange complaining and demanding to restore the services back. “As it is children are facing difficulties to open various websites due to low speed internet connectivity and now from yesterday they even could use it due to breakdown of net connectivity. Authorities must get the fault repaired immediately as various institutions are giving online lessons and trial tests to the students which they cannot afford to miss them,” said the parent, who came to lodge a complaint.
When contacted, Junior Telephone Officer Adarsh Dessai informed that the services are affected due to damage of outside plant (OSP) main link cable of Margao-Curchorem line.
“While working on the water pipeline, the PWD labourers damaged the cable at Quepem and therefore the services in area got disconnected. We have restored most of the services and by evening we will try to restore the broadband connectivity,” assured Dessai.
Admitting that PWD labourers damaged the cable, PWD Assistant Engineer (Water Supply Division) Vasuraj Karmalkar said that the 300mm dia water pipeline was initially laid down 35 years back to supply water in Quepem municipal area and Avedem panchayat area.
“The pipe which was along the road side came under due to road widening and the piece got damaged while undertaking widening activities which was later replaced but due to heavy movement of vehicles it damaged again and started leaking and while welding that piece, BSNL cable accidentally got cut,” said Karmalkar and added that there are around 12 cables existed under the road which sometimes become very difficult for them to carry out such work by avoiding these cables.
