Report by OD bureau; Bhubaneswar: Odisha Cable Association has threatened for agitation on 18th June against biased and unreasonable Tender process by CESU (Central Electricity Supply Undertaking).

This was said by members of the Association in a press meet at Kesari Hotel in Bhubaneswar on Sautrday. The Association has said that, there are 900 registered and 1500 unregistered Cable Operators have been providing service to their customers. But in the notice issued by CESU for laying cable on Electric poles, they have not been given importance and the rules & regulations mentioned thereof are meant for a specific organization, as alleged. If that is followed, only one Cable operating organization will grow by doing monopoly in the entire state, while other 2400 Cable operators will be forced to close down their business in future.

It may be mentioned that, previously the Govt had made a rule for allowing only one cable per pole. But in 2006, an organization namely Variety had challenged this decision in High Court. Following the same, High Court in 2008 cancelled this rule of State Govt and ordered to prepare a guideline for laying three cables per pole. Then another guideline was prepared by State Govt in 2009. When petitions were filed in High Court about workability of the guideline, High Court had directed to prepare another workable guideline.

But despite this, Govt issued a notification on this year 3rd March, after one and half years of order of High Court without discussing with any Cable operator, and CESU issued a Tender Notice on this 4th June to this effect. While this Tender Notice does not have any logical terms, it is intended at suitability of one specific organization. If this biased Tender process is implemented, there is possibility of 2400 Cable Operators losing their means of livelihood, hence immediate intervention of the Govt is being demanded.

If the Govt does not take any step within next two days, then Odisha Cable Association will start state level agitation on coming 18th and the same will be accelerated in coming phases.