Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 9

With no boards installed to give information about the work being undertaken, barricading or prior intimation to public, private telecommunication companies are digging up roads outside houses to lay cables causing inconvenience to the area residents.

Residents alleged that due to a lack of supervision and control of the local Municipal Corporation, which grants permission, such practice was going on unabated in different parts of the city.

A telecommunication company started the work of laying optical fibre cable in Sector 21-C in January this year. After the work was completed, another firm started digging up different areas outside the gates of houses in the sector.

“Our house gate was blocked for two days as the area outside was dug up and we could not take out our cars. Had we got prior information about the work, we would have made some arrangements. The workers told me that they have informed our neighbour. This did not make sense to me,” shared Charu Jain, a resident of Sector 21-C.

Charu, a civil engineer, pointed out, “During the work by both the firms, no barricading of the area was done. Recently, a small child while cycling had a narrow escape from falling into the pits dug up outside houses. I think basics are not being followed while doing the work.”

Charan Singh, a resident of Sector 19, added, “There should be a fixed timeline for carrying out the work and restoring the dug up space. It seems there is no supervision or check by the MC.”

Vinod Vashisht, convener, City Forum of Residents Welfare Organisations, commented, “Two to three months ago, we were getting such complaints from Sector 27, 43 and 33. The firms should go for tunnelling rather than digging up the whole road. They must display information about the dates when the work would start and complete and who is to be contacted for complaints.”

MC Chief Engineer Shailender Singh said, “Restoration work is our job and firms pay us for it. We do it when the whole work in a particular area is completed as the contractor may again have to dig the same area. We will ensure that public is informed in advance.”