KOCHI: The Kochi Corporation has decided to initiate criminal proceedings against telecom major Bharti Airtel for its continuous involvement in illegally digging up roads to lay cables across the city.
Deputy Mayor T J Vinod told Express that the corporation will take stringent action against companies involved in illegal digging of roads.
“We will soon file a complaint before the police commissioner to initiate a criminal case against Airtel. We will also discuss the matter in the council and initiate more action against it accordingly. The company did not secure permission to dig up roads. This is unacceptable,” said Vinod.
Contractual workers of Bharti Airtel had dug up the Ashoka Road near Kaloor for laying phone and internet cables on Friday morning.
However, the activity was halted after the intervention of works standing committee chairperson P M Haris. To everyone’s shock, the workers admitted to have not obtained any prior permission or license from the civic body for their actions.
Haris also lodged a memorandum to the corporation secretary seeking legal action against the company under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984.
“Everyone knows the companies intentionally want to cheat the civic body by not paying restoration charges and the applicable yearly track rent. The corporation will ensure the police initiates strong charge against them,” said Haris.
Airtel had also dug up the road at Jew Street in the city and in Mattancherry last month without prior permission. Though the corporation secretary, as per the mayor’s instructions, submitted a complaint to the police commissioner, police did not accept the complaint.
A case was registered after the mayor contacted the DGP. Haris said a proper audit should be conducted on the number of cables with its measurement laid under corporation roads in the past years.
“The corporation should ensure telecom companies are paying track rent due to the corporation every year. Else, the corporation will suffer a huge loss,” he said. Officials of Bharti Airtel could not be reached for comments.