The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Cable wires pose a threat

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Sunday, Aug 17, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Cable wires pose a threat

Swathi .V

Sometimes entangle vehicles passing by and cause accidents

– A file photo

Risky business: Cable wires hanging precariously from electricity poles.

HYDERABAD: Coiled cable wires pegged to the electric poles and the loose ones dangling parallel to the power lines annoy the onlookers for the aesthetic blemish they cause to the city’s skyscape. On and off, they sometimes entangle vehicles passing by and cause accidents. The recent incident at Rahmath Nagar where the wires caused damage to a few television sets only added up to the grievance-list.

Television sets were burnt on Friday when cable wires were laid within a feet’s distance from the high tension power lines. Falling within the induction field of the power lines, the wires conducted high voltage electricity straight to the television sets, in turn damaging them. The wires were subsequently removed by the department. However, the affected will not be entitled to any compensation by the department as the damage was not due to any surge in actual power flow.

Questionable practices

Though the power authorities are ostensibly blameless in this incident, allowing the cable operators to use the poles indiscriminately becomes questionable. Cable wires falling within very close range of power lines may be noticed at many locations in the city, which poses constant threat to the users’ property.

“Earlier, an agreement was arrived at with the internet service providers and cable operators, according to which, certain royalty has to be paid to the department for using electric poles.

However, it is not being implemented in any circle as of now,” said an official. The amount varied between Rs.15 and Rs.45 across the state according to the municipality.

Agreement or no agreement, a check by the officials may be enforced when laying new cables.

However, the intransigence of the cable operators is being blamed for lack of such coordination. “We keep removing the cables as they are illegal. But the operators often get them back using their political influence. Earlier, a committee was formed with representations from GHMC, cable operators and CPDCL to find a solution to the problem, but to no avail,” says an officer.

Incidentally, cable operators also use the swanky lamp posts of the GHMC for their business.

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