PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed cable operators to assume full responsibility for any accidents or damage caused by loose, low-hanging or damaged cable wires on electricity poles.
The direction came during a hearing on Thursday after operators sought a stay on the Electricity Department’s ongoing drive to cut the allegedly illegally hanging cables.
The court refused to halt the cutting work after the department submitted a report detailing casualties and other incidents attributed to dangling cable bundles. Executive Engineer Kashinath Shetye said the High Court made it clear that the removal of unsafe cables will continue on safety grounds, and the matter will next be heard on November 25.
“The court has asked operators to submit written confirmation accepting responsibility for any accidents caused by damaged cables or harm to the poles,” Shetye said, while confirming the department has not received any written confirmation from the operators.
He added that only three cables will be permitted per pole and not on ornamental poles. “Even this is a temporary arrangement until lines shift underground. Our poles cannot take the load of more than three cables,” he said.
Earlier, the department had issued a 15-day deadline to remove all unauthorised cables from poles, warning that penal action would follow. In January this year, the High Court dismissed a petition by the Goa Cable TV Networking and Service Providers Association seeking a stay on the removal of illegally installed overhead cables. The department at that time claimed a revenue loss of around Rs 50 crore due to unpaid dues by members of the association.
