Private telecom operators cheat BBMP: Councillor

BANGALORE: Yediyur councillor N R Ramesh informed the BBMP council on Monday that many private firms were avoiding road cutting charges and monthly rentals by laying optical fibre cables (OFCs) in BESCOM and BSNL pipes.Blaming the BBMP Engineer-in-Chief (EIC) B T Ramesh, the councillor said that EIC had  permitted them to lay optical fibre cables upto 2,500 km and had flouted the council’s resolution passed in February last year.According to the resolution, only government agencies like BSNL and BESCOM are authorised agencies for road cutting.The councillor added that private telecom operators were applying for road cutting tenders through BSNL and BESCOM contractors to get permission, taking BBMP for a ride.“If the government contractors apply, it is easy for them to get the permission. If the optical fibre cables are laid in BSNL or BESCOM pipeline, operators need not pay monthly rentals. At least Rs 700 crore can be generated through optical fibre cables if the system is tightened. On the other hand, operators are cheating the Palike,” the councillor alleged.He said that there was an optical fibre cables cell in BBMP,  which had to permit road cutting and inspection should be accorded by it.“When a cell has been set up to do the needful, what was the need for the EIC to give permission?” he questioned.He clarified that optical fibre cables cell should grant the permission and not the Engineer-in-Chief. At present, the case is pending at the High Court. “Let the government agencies give an undertaking to pay the road cutting and other charges after the court passes the verdict,” he said.Relying to his query, BBMP commissioner assured that henceforth, power to grant  permission by Ramesh will be withdrawn. The permission must be obtained from OFC cell’s chief engineer.“If the official is found guilty, suitable action will be initiated against him,” he added.