The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is facing a unique challenge with a surplus of overhead cables seized during recent cleanup drives. These cables, used by private companies for internet and DTH services, have piled up in the PMC’s encroachment department landfill, with no clear plan for disposal.
Service providers in Pune have relied on overhead cables to avoid high costs of underground installations, resulting in a sprawling network that obstructs streetlights and poses hazards to birds. To address complaints, PMC has been conducting weekly cleanup campaigns to remove unauthorized cables.
Despite the successful removal of cables, PMC officials now struggle to dispose of them, incurring significant expenses. The cables are deemed unusable and cannot be repurposed, adding to the municipality’s financial burden.
Although there is a policy mandating underground installation, many service providers continue to flout the rules with alleged political support. The proposed “Abhay Scheme” to incentivize companies to transition to underground wiring was stalled due to policy delays, allowing the overhead network to expand unchecked.
Responsibility for removing unauthorized cables lies with the encroachment and sky signs departments, while the road department oversees their underground installation. The electricity department, facing operational challenges, has taken charge of enforcement, leading to administrative disputes over cable disposal.
Service providers and political leaders have pressured PMC to halt cleanup actions, citing disruptions to internet services. The municipality must now navigate enforcing regulations while managing logistical and financial obstacles in the aftermath of cleanup efforts.
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