PANAJI: The Electricity Department has issued show cause notices to cable operators and internet service providers, directing them to remove their cables from electricity poles within 15 days failing which will face penal action.
Speaking to media persons, Executive Engineer Kashinath Shetye said that cable and internet service providers are given the final 15 days time to remove or will have to face action.
He said that assistant engineers and junior engineers will be held responsible for ensuing action is taken and if they do not act, they will face a penalty of Rs 300 per day, which will be deducted from their salaries.
“Some operators have applied for permission to use the poles, but many are yet to. To impose fines, the department had requested a list from the operators. These operators must also take responsibility for any accidents and casualties”, said Shetye
Shetye reiterated that the State has suffered a loss of Rs 50 cr due to non-payment of dues.
The High Court of Bombay at Goa recently dismissed a petition by the Goa Cable TV Networking and Service Providers Association, which sought to stop the Electricity Department from cutting unauthorised cables. The court ruled that the department is free to cut any illegal internet and TV cables.
