Pune: Hazardous Internet Cables Pose Risks in Kalyani Nagar: TSKN Organizes Joint Survey

Harjeet Kaur Chabra

On June 25, 2024, at 10 a.m., Team Swach Kalyani Nagar had organized a joint survey in Kalyani Nagar with the Department of Telecom (DoT) and major internet service providers to address the issue of dangerous internet cables in the area. This survey was after a meeting held on April 18, 2024, at the DoT office, during which the decision was made to find a long-term solution to the problem.

Participants included Pramod Sapkale, Director, Dept of Telecom (DoT) and Vineet Mathur, former DDG, DoT, Maharashtra and Goa, & TSKN Life member and Regional Managers of Jio, BSNL, Airtel, VI, ICC

TSKN Founder Trustees: Drayson Dixon and Purnima Joshi

Participants, accompanied by residents, thoroughly inspected the numerous cable bundles on the tree opposite the Ganesh Mandir on Central Avenue following an introduction by Drayson Dixon. They discovered multiple cables from Airtel and other ISPs emerging from underground pipes directed towards the society.

Ramesh Kamble, the secretary of the Neelanjali Society, explained, “Our society has arranged common underground ducting for three ISPs with permission. We have cut unauthorized cables, but some small ISPs still illegally access our terraces.”

ISP heads estimated that over 50% of the cables crisscrossing roads and trees were defunct. They also noted that third-party providers often laid cables within societies, even for major ISPs. Additionally, old and disused cables were not being removed.

Sapkale then asked for suggestions on how to proceed. The proposed plan includes:

• Auditing and removing dead cables from a small stretch of footpath from Sovereign Corner to Neelanjali Society on a trial basis.
• A meeting with the PMC commissioner to seek permission to explore using streetlight poles for ISP cables.
• Requesting a reduction in fees for laying underground cables
• Explore the option of erecting poles on footpaths to free up trees from cable bundles
• Encouraging PMC to lay independent underground ducting for internet cables.

Sapkale concluded the meeting by stating, “Once the ISPs complete their audit, we will prepare a report and have a joint meeting with the commissioner.”