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| Disorder of the Day: Unauthorised digging in violation of JMC norms | | | Kunal Shrivatsa
JAMMU, July 10: Astounding it may sound but the ongoing digging works for laying fiber optic cables on behalf of Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd at different locations in Jammu city is being executed in complete violation of Jammu Municipal Corporation's (JMC's) rules and laws.
If sources are to be believed then the work of laying fiber cables was taken up by the Reliance Jio Infocomm without taking the mandatory permission from JMC authorities to dig the city roads.
"It is necessary for any organization to take prior consent under Article 235 of JMC Act before initiating any digging or excavation work within municipal limits but the Reliance Jio hasn't applied for any such permission which is quite shocking… It is nothing but the breach of rules with impunity by the corporate world giant," said sources.
Sources further said that Reliance Jio Infocomm instead of approaching JMC for obtaining permission got the digging work started only by signing an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Public Works Department (Roads & Buildings) which is not an authorized body to give a go ahead for such works being carried out within Jammu city limits.
"Reliance Jio people without realizing that PWD (R&B) is not mandated to give permission of this nature went on to sign a MoU with the department and commenced the digging work in various parts of the city…. PWD's jurisdiction is limited only to repair and restore city roads," said sources.
Sources divulged that the deal between Reliance Jio and PWD (R&B) is attached with some hanky-panky as a huge sum of money was given to the department for repair and restoration of the dug up roads.
"A sum of Rs 25 crore was taken by PWD as charges for repairing and restoration of the roads damaged due to digging which is quite mysterious as 75 to 80 percent of fiber cables are being laid on the non-macadamized portion (on the edges of the roads) but the 'kuccha' surface where the cables were laid or still to be placed is getting repaired by the contractors of the firm themselves," said sources.
"PWD's role comes only where the cables were laid in the middle of the roads…The department will only black-top the dug up segment of the road," they added.
Sources informed that after initial reluctance, the JMC has now tightened the noose against the erring firm Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd for not adhering to the laid down norms.
JMC seized fiber cable of the company from different parts of Jammu city as it was undertaking digging of roads without permission from JMC.
When contacted Joint Commissioner, JMC, Kapil Sharma admitted that the digging work of roads was stopped a few days back as the Reliance Jio Infocomm has not taken permission for carrying out the activity.
"The Reliance Jio Infocomm was earlier also warned not to indulge in such activity which is causing loss to Government property… We even served a notice to them and approached the PWD…The Chief Engineer PWD told us that we have taken money from Reliance for restoration and they may be allowed to continue work," said Joint Commissioner, JMC, Kapil Sharma.
"But under JMC Act it is necessary to first take our permission to carry out any digging of roads....A day before yesterday we took punitive action against Reliance and the digging work was stalled since then," he added. |
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