Pune: PMC’s Internet Cable Cleanup Campaign Hits Snag Over Disposal Costs and Coordination Issues

Pune, 26th December 2024: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is grappling with a unique challenge—what to do with the massive quantity of overhead cables seized during recent cleanup drives across the city. Thousands of kilograms of these cables, removed as part of a campaign to address the nuisance of unauthorized overhead wiring, have now piled up in the PMC’s encroachment department landfill, with no clear plan for disposal.

Private companies providing internet and DTH services in Pune have long relied on overhead cables to circumvent the steep fees required for underground installations, pegged at ₹12,000 per running meter. This has resulted in a sprawling overhead cable network that not only obstructs streetlights but also poses hazards to birds. Responding to growing citizen complaints, PMC has been conducting weekly “deep clean” campaigns to remove the cables from different parts of the city every Saturday.

While the cleanup has been effective in removing unauthorized cables, PMC officials now face the challenge of disposing of them, a task expected to incur significant expenses. The cables, deemed unusable, cannot be repurposed, adding to the municipality’s financial burden.
Despite a policy mandating the underground installation of cables, many service providers, allegedly backed by political support, continue to flout the rules. A survey conducted two years ago revealed the extent of unauthorized cabling, prompting the proposal of the “Abhay Scheme” to encourage companies to transition to underground wiring. However, the scheme was stalled due to policy delays, allowing the overhead network to expand unchecked.

The PMC’s encroachment and sky signs departments are officially tasked with removing unauthorized overhead cables, while the road department oversees their underground installation. However, the electricity department, which faces the greatest operational challenges due to these cables, has taken charge of enforcement. This lack of inter-departmental coordination has led to administrative disputes, with no department assuming responsibility for disposing of the seized cables.

Meanwhile, service providers and political leaders have pressured the PMC to halt its actions, citing disruptions to internet services for citizens.
The municipal corporation now finds itself at a crossroads, balancing the need to enforce regulations while addressing logistical and financial hurdles in managing the aftermath of the cleanup efforts.