PANJIM: To regulate unauthorized usage of electricity infrastructure by private agencies, the State Cabinet, on Friday, approved the ‘Usage of Electricity Poles for services other than electrical supply’ scheme, under which service providers such as cable operators or advertising agencies would be charged for using the department’s poles.
The scheme is effective from April 2015.
Briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said that a number of agencies are utilizing electricity poles without authorization for stringing broadband and TV cables, and installing advertising boards, billboards and other forms of advertisements on the poles.
“Hence the government seeks to promulgate guidelines to regulate such activities and earn revenue for the State,” he said.
Parsekar said that according to the scheme, any person or advertising agency or cable TV operator will be allowed usage for a minimum period of three months and for a maximum period of two years. The two years contract could be extended for a maximum period of another one year.
As per the scheme, the rental charges for the cables would be Rs 2000 for a block of three months or up to maximum of first 500 mtrs or use of electrical poles, whichever has lower line span. For advertisement board, the monthly rental on one side of board would be Rs 150 per month.
“To counter the impact of inflation, the rates would be increased by 10 per cent on April 1 of every financial year,” the chief minister said.
