PROTESTS EXPECTED?

CUSTOMERS MAY BEAR THE BRUNT

Decision to remove over hanging cables from city skyline has cable operators up in arms trying to seek exemption for TV cablesResidents in different parts of the city are bound to face severe problems accessing internet or even having their favourite TV channels going blank in the coming days. Here is the reason: Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), in a stringent burst, has initiated a drive across the city to cut unauthorised overhanging cables which are posing a grave threat to motorists – particularly two-wheeler riders – and destroying the beauty of the city.According to the BBMP officials, the drive commenced from November 17 after Mayor BN Manjunath Reddy’s recommendation and BBMP commissioner G Kumar Naik’s order to take up the overhanging cable removal works to beautify the city’s skyline and provide safety to motorists and pedestrians.Mayor Reddy told Bangalore Mirror, “I am aware of the problems being faced by the pedestrians and motorists because of these overhanging cables. I had called a meeting of officials to discuss the issue. I was informed that only 10 per cent OFC (optical fibre cables) providers have taken permission from the civic body to lay overhead lines. Rest all are illegal. It is necessary to cut them. The worst affected area is Old Airport Road where there have frequently been fatal accidents because of this.”One of the BBMP officials involved in the drive said there are low hanging cables on road dividers on Old Airport Road, Varthur, Outer Ring Road and many other areas. These cables have become dangerous as it is not just spoiling the beauty of the city but also posing a threat to the lives of motorists. “Suppose a rider is unable to spot a low hanging cable, it could prove fatal. Most of the time it is seen that the pedestrians are the victims of such cables. We don’t have any option but to cut the cables and restore safety to the pedestrians and 8motorists and also the beauty of the city.” Another engineer who is part of the drive said: “In many areas we see optical fibre cables hanging overhead.We have ordered the companies to remove these voluntarily and lay cables underground. Already, the OFC operators have started laying underground cables. Cable operators also need to follow suit. The engineers have been asked to take up the removal of overhanging cables and submit weekly report every Thursday.”Interestingly, the BBMP lacks a policy on overhanging cables. This has made the strict demeanour of the civic agency appear like a knee-jerk reaction to a problem that has existed over many years.The cable operators are expected to protest against BBMP’s drive. The BBMP officials have already faced protests in Madiwala, Mico Layout and Basaveshwaranagar, Mahalakshmi layout and several parts of Jayanagar recently. However, BBMP officials insisted that they check for alternatives as the civic body is firm on getting the overhanging cables removed from BBMP’s and Bescom’s electric poles.The BBMP and Bangalore Electric Supply Company (Bescom) are reportedly pressurising cable operators and service providers to pay them rent since their infrastructure like poles and buildings are being used to hang cables. Alternatively, going underground too would push the costs up. Cable operators said it is okay for OFC to go 8underground, but it would be impractical for the same to happen to television cables as these go from house to house which make it easier and less costly if they hanged from one building to the other using electric poles, trees or 8whatever structures came in the way. Pattrick Raju, cable operator association president, said “Recently, we met the mayor and sought seven months’ time to regularise OFC cables; but we are demanding exemptions for TV cables. If they try to put pressure on us for TV cables, then we will have to collect the same from the consumers. ”