Pune Municipal Corporation Under Scrutiny Over Delayed Recovery of Crores In Cable Fines
Pune Municipal Corporation Under Scrutiny Over Delayed Recovery of Crores In Cable Fines
In Pune, allegations are swirling around the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) for its alleged laxity in recovering fines amounting to crores of rupees from major companies that have yet to bury their overhead cables underground.
An external agency appointed to survey overhead cables, reportedly submitted a comprehensive report that includes prominent names such as Jio Digital Fibre Ltd., Tata Play Ltd., and Vodafone Idea Ltd. Despite this, the PMC has faced accusations of withholding this critical report from public scrutiny.
According to the survey, a staggering 18,885 km of overhead cables crisscross the city, prompting the consultant to recommend fines based on municipal regulations. Despite issuing notices to these companies, the PMC has been criticized for its perceived lack of commitment to enforcing these fines.
PMC’s Road Department initially stated that the agency was surveying to pinpoint overhead cables, but the consultant had already delivered its findings. Allegedly, the report has not been disclosed, possibly due to the involvement of major corporations with dangling cables.
The PMC had formulated a revenue-generating policy focusing on placing cables underground, potentially earning substantial income. Out of the identified 18,885 km of overhead cables, only 380 km have been transitioned underground, generating Rs. 12,500 per km for the PMC.
The financial stakes are high, with estimates suggesting potential revenues of over Rs. 10,000 crore if fines are collected and cables regularized. Social activists and citizens are calling for transparency, demanding the immediate release of the survey report to hold the PMC accountable for its revenue recovery efforts.
