The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday directed the BBMP to consider launching a drive against unauthorised cables dangling from footpaths and streets after giving a month’s notice to internet service providers and cable TV operators.
A division bench headed by Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka also directed the authorities to continue the ongoing drive of removing unauthorised cables from footpaths/streets across Bengaluru.
The court was hearing a PIL petition by N P Amrutesh, a city lawyer.
The petitioner has filed an interlocutory application seeking to make the cable TV operators’ association and telecom/internet service providers as respondents in the petition. The court permitted him to file amended copies of the petition in two weeks and ordered issuing notices to the new respondents.
The court stipulated that the BBMP can give cable operators and internet service providers a month’s notice, at the end of which it should start a drive to remove any cables that are found dangling from footways/streets.
The petition stated that hanging/dangling electric/internet/TV cables pose a danger to the public. Citing media reports, it said the city witnessed 507 deaths due to electrocution from 2015 to 2019.
The petition also cited a survey conducted by the BBMP and Bescom that showed that the city has more than 7,000 structures, mostly houses, right under high-tension power lines.
(Published 03 August 2021, 19:31 IST)
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