STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: APDCL (Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd) will start removing all unauthorized and unidentified communication cables from 25th November 2022.
Addressing the media today, APDCL's Customer Relations consultant Abhijit Sarma Barua said, "Due to haphazard and random drawal of cables over APDCL's HT/LT electric poles, the cables pose a serious threat to the common public as well as our technicians. Most of the cables are without approval from the competent authority of APDCL and without maintaining the requisite safety norms as mandated by CEIA Guidelines."
Sarma Barua said, "To streamline the drawal of cables of all service providers on APDCL poles and to ensure safety and aesthetic look in the Guwahati city, APDCL made an endeavour in 2021 wherein it bunched all the cables drawn over the APDCL network for smooth maintenance of HT/LT network by our line staff."
He said at present, as desired by the government, APDCL again initiated the process of streamlining the drawal of cables on the APDCL network. In this regard, the APDCL held a series of meetings. At the November 4 meeting convened by the Kamrup (M) DC with all stakeholders, the issue came up for discussion.
Following a directive from the APDCL MD after the meeting, APDCL issued notices asking cable operators and ISPs (internet service providers) to contact the APDCL. Sarma Barua said, "So far, 16 cable operators and internet service providers have contacted us for regularization and streamlining the drawal of cables of all service providers on APDCL poles to ensure safety and aesthetic look in the Guwahati city. However, we believe that there are still many internet service providers and cable TV operators who have not contacted the APDCL authorities for regularization of usage of APDCL poles. As such, we have issued a notice in a few newspapers on November 17, 2022, requesting all untraced operators to come forward and contact the office of the Chief Executive Officer, Guwahati Electrical Circle-I, APDCL, LAR, Ulubari for regularization of the matter within 24th November 2022."
Also watch: