While welcoming any developmental activities undertaken in Kiphire district and offering all cooperation in this regard, Citizens’ Welfare Society (CWS), Kiphire has expressed dismay at the laying of underground optical fibre cable (OFC) for Jio and Airtel along a stretch of NH-202 just 12 or 18 cm deep, and that too on the upper side of the road by blocking and damaging the drainage system.
In a release issued by its media cell, CWS said it observed while on a visit to the working site that the width to lay OFC cable was not adequate and people residing below the highway on the side would be at risk during rainy seasons.
Fearing that the 2018 natural calamity could recur, it warned “This time it will be manmade disaster, if corrective measures are not taken up at the earliest.”
The organisation questioned how and under what circumstances PWD (NH/R&B) allowed the company to block and damage the drainage system, which was being look after by the department. It also questioned the contractors/companies concerned under what guidelines they were carrying out the work of laying OFC cable and who would bear the responsibility, if the lifeline was destroyed.
Mentioning that the damage was preventable, the society alleged that the authorities concerned were remaining mute spectators despite the activities going on right in front of them.
CWS cautioned that, if the department or contractor or company concerned failed to take corrective measures as per the guidelines and conditions at the earliest, it would be forced to escalate the matter “before the ongoing work costs our lifeline”.
The society further warned that if any mishap occurred on the NH-202 stretch due to the negligence of the department concerned, the latter would be held fully responsible.