200 kg dead cables, boxes pulled down in drive across Shillong
Shillong, Oct 23: Authorities in Shillong have taken up a challenging task of clearing the city’s overhead clutter of dead cables of within a month.
As part of the exercise as instructed by Chief Minister Conrad K Sagnma, nearly 200 kg of dead cables and boxes have been pulled down from poles across Shillong.
“As per the instruction of the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, all unorganized cables are being organised,” East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner Abhilash Baranwal said after a field inspection on Friday.
“Many cables, which are crossing between two poles, have already been clamped wherever possible. Simultaneously, many loops, many unused wires, many unused boxes have been removed,” the DC said.
Stating that purpose of the entire exercise improve the aesthetics, he said, “Telecom wires are spread out all over the city.”
The initial phase of this clean-up operation has covered most major points.
“Preliminary part of this exercise has already been completed in most of the major points of the city, but through this inspection, we are also trying to understand how we can improve it further,” he said.
The administration, meanwhile, imposed certain rules including minimum height for arranging the telecom cables.
“We are also asking them to label… even if they cannot label the cable passing between two poles, they will have to label the different loops and boxes,” the DC said.
“This kind of rules are being imposed and those who will not comply, their cables, their boxes, their infrastructure on any pole will be removed,” he said.
“This is an ongoing process and we hope to complete this exercise within one month,” Baranwal added.
He said the drive is linked to the larger beautification push.
“The Chief Minister has expressed his concern and apprehension about these wires time and again, and according to his instruction, this entire beautification and organization exercise is being carried out,” he said.
Warning against fresh loose hanging, he said, “If somebody again wants to pull a cable between two poles, they can tie their new incoming wire with the clamped wires or they can hang it again loose. If they indulge in such exercises, those cables will be cut and removed.”
