BSNL plea for joint efforts among govt agencies

State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) today appealed for co-ordinated efforts among government agencies while laying storm-water drainage facility or for road-laying works by Chennai Metrowater Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) and highways department.

Without informing BSNL officials, the CMWSSB has been digging roads for providing storm-water drainage facilities in the Ambattur-Avadi and Pallikaranai area, BSNL-Chennai Telephones General Manager R Periasami told reporters.

"Due to lack of such coordinated efforts, the high cost copper wires laid by BSNL in the locality were damaged. This has resulted in loss of revenue of about Rs 80 lakh in 2010 alone," he said.

"After digging, the copper wires, thrown out in the open, were also taken away by miscreants.This has resulted in huge loss to us. Therefore we request them to coodinate with us by informing us about doing any such work", he said.

He requested the agencies to avoid digging using construction equipment in small streets where BSNL have laid the copper cables.

He said in the Ambattur-Avadi-Pallikaranai area BSNL had laid about 70,000 lines. But due to the digging of roads, in 2010 alone about 4,000 lines were damaged. This year between April and July more than 1,500 lines have been damaged.