Overhead wires in several parts of the city create a web above pedestrians, motorists and buildings
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.
PMC data said around 60% of roads have been dug up to lay cables in the last 10 years. “Work from home has increased since Covid 19. The Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Public Property Act, 1995, provided for punitive action against individuals or entities that defaced public property and spaces.
Electrical department’s senior official Yogesh Mali said, “Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will introduce a policy to deal with the issue. Meanwhile, the administration said the SOPs would streamline use of cables and its identification. A PMC official said, “The administration will make various parameters mandatory to lay cables. 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. 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. Standing committee chairperson Shrinath Bhimale said, “Steps are being taken to deal with the nuisance of overhead cables.
A standard operating procedure (SOP) for overhead cable management will be finalised soon. Currently, identification was not possible as there was no dedicated tagging. It required high-quality, uninterrupted services and local governing bodies should ensure availability of necessary infrastructure. It has heightened the reliance on home internet. 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. PMC carried out a drive to remove the wires. Operators who fail to follow the civic norms will face action.”