Overhead cables deface city, civic SOP soon to manage issue

Pune: The civic body may have dug up 1,500km length of roads to lay optic fibre cables over the last decade, but the problem of overhead ones that deface the city and cause mishaps remains said citizens and activists.Electrical department’s senior official Yogesh Mali said, “Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will introduce a policy to deal with the issue. A standard operating procedure (SOP) for overhead cable management will be finalised soon.” PMC data said around 60% of roads have been dug up to lay cables in the last 10 years.During the recent general body meeting, elected representatives raised questions regarding overhead cables. PMC gave data that showed the civic body had earned Rs1,015 crore from fees to lay cables since 2016. Around 2,400 permissions for road digging were granted during the period.Meanwhile, the administration said the SOPs would streamline use of cables and its identification. Currently, identification was not possible as there was no dedicated tagging.A PMC official said, “The administration will make various parameters mandatory to lay cables. It will include naming and identification marks on each cable. This will help provide detailed information about cable owners and make action against users of unauthorised wires easy.”Citizens said internet, cellphones and related services were an essential part of daily life, especially in a city like Pune where a prominent occupation was the IT sector. It required high-quality, uninterrupted services and local governing bodies should ensure availability of necessary infrastructure.“Work from home has increased since Covid 19. It has heightened the reliance on home internet. Availability of reliable services must rise proportionate to demand,” said Ashwini Pathak, a Satara Road resident .Civic officials said they were taking legal action against illegal cables owners. The Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Public Property Act, 1995, provided for punitive action against individuals or entities that defaced public property and spaces. Other than being an eyesore, unauthorised cables pose significant safety risks — broken or low-hanging wires could lead to serious accidents, injuries or even fatalities. Consequently, operators responsible for using such cables could face prosecution for criminal acts of negligence.Standing committee chairperson Shrinath Bhimale said, “Steps are being taken to deal with the nuisance of overhead cables. PMC carried out a drive to remove the wires. Operators who fail to follow the civic norms will face action.”Civic data showed that on average, nearly 80km to 150km length of roads are dug up every year to provide various services. Along with private companies, govt and semi-govt agencies — such as the electricity department and piped gas suppliers — dig up surfaces for utility services. Additionally, some PMC departments dig roads for water pipelines and drainage networks.