Guwahati: The Kamrup Metropolitan District administration has issued an order mandating the removal of open and hanging wires from street poles across Guwahati within seven days.
The initiative is an effort to clean up the city before the much-anticipated Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit, improve the city’s aesthetic appeal, and for public safety.
The decision was taken following a field verification that revealed the loosely hanging wires were causing physical discomfort to pedestrians and posing a significant safety hazard.
The directive, issued by Sub-Divisional Magistrate Kankan Sharma, is in accordance with Section 152(1)(a) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, which empowers authorities to eliminate unlawful obstructions in public spaces.
As per the notification, authorities and agencies responsible for these cables must ensure compliance within the given timeframe.
Non-compliance may lead to penalties under Section 223 of BNSS, 2023, and further enforcement actions, including removal at the cost of cable owners and seizure of undressed cables.
“If the concerned authorities fail to comply with the order, pole-owning authorities are directed to mitigate the nuisance on their own, with costs to cable owners, and take necessary steps in this regard,” the notification stated.
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To ensure transparency, the administration has also allowed agencies or individuals concerned to submit their objections in person or through an authorized representative at a hearing scheduled for February 14 at the District Commissioner’s office.
