PANAJI
Even as a writ petition against the removal of overhead cable wires is still pending in the High Court of Bombay at Goa, cable operators have now filed a fresh plea.
They want the court to cancel the Electricity Department’s order asking each operator to pay Rs 30 lakh for using electricity poles.
The High Court has not given any interim relief but has asked the Electricity Department to reply within four weeks. The case will now be heard on 24 June, and both petitions are likely to be taken up together.
This new petition follows show-cause notices issued by the department over two months ago to cable operators and internet service providers.
They were told to remove cables from poles and other structures within 15 days or face action. The department also fined two telecom companies Rs 3.5 crore and Rs 1.8 crore for not paying pole usage charges.
Earlier, on 22 January, the High Court had rejected a petition by the Goa Cable TV Networking and Service Providers Association.
The petition had asked for a stay on the removal of illegally installed overhead cables. The department has claimed a revenue loss of Rs 50 crore due to unpaid dues by members of the association.
