Bengaluru: Cable TV operators claim that BBMP’s current drive against unauthorised optical fibre cables (OFC) was taking a toll on their business, as they were indiscriminately cutting wires meant for cable TV transmission.
V.S. Patrick Raj, president of Karnataka State Cable TV Operators Association said the operators have lost nearly Rs 250 crore after BBMP took up the drive.
“We have been smoothly running our business for the past 30 years and the city has over 2,000 cable operators," Patrick claimed and lamented that under the guise of wiping out illegal OFCs, cable TV lines were also being cut.
He pointed out that it is not possible to provided underground connection to every single household and in some cases they have to fix them on trees and poles.
"BBMP claims the drive is to clean up Bengaluru. Even we cable TV operators are ready to join hands. Let them cut illegal OFCs, but spare our lines," Patrick said.
He lamented that their repeated pleas to the BBMP and all political parties have been ignored.
He warned that if cutting of cable TV lines continue, they will be forced to register their protest through a ‘blackout’.
