WASA employees accidentally cut PTCL lines on MM Alam Road:

[LahoreEstate]

WASA ‘disconnects’ PTCL
* WASA spokesman says two engineers appointed to inform PTCL prior to initiating work, will take action against those responsible

By Afnan Khan

LAHORE: The Pakistan Telecommunication Limited (PTCL) has decided to take legal action against the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) for accidentally disconnecting thousands of telephone connections during work on MM Alam Road without informing the PTCL first.

The work at MM Alam has been initiated to install a sewerage system, which would go to the SOS Village School and end at Satu Katla - where the government is establishing the country’s first modern water treatment plant. The development work would continue for the next three months.

The situation has panicked the residents, as they are unable to contact anyone. Several businesses have also been disrupted, as the telephone is a vital component of a business organisation (it is used for calls, fax and internet). The MM Alam Road and adjacent areas are considered the financial hub of most businesses including huge departmental stores, car showrooms and local as well as multinational food outlets.

According to the rules and regulations, WASA was supposed to inform PTCL of its work schedule prior to initiating any work. The step allows PTCL to inform WASA of the location of its underground cables to avoid any accidental damage. PTCL Gulberg Divisional Engineer Mohammad Qasim said WASA engineers initiated the work without informing PTCL, disconnecting four cables (type 7, 8, 22, 23). He said each cable supplied about 500 connections and was extremely costly and difficult to install. He said the residents and businesses had lodged several complaints to the authorities concerned, adding that they were unable to address such an issue immediately. The engineer said the department was planning to take legal action against WASA for committing the accident.

Engineers: WASA spokesman Imtiaz Ghauri said the department had appointed two of its engineers, Tanveer Sindhi and Yousaf, to provide the schedule to PTCL prior to initiating any work. He said they must have informed PTCL, adding that WASA would initiate an inquiry of the matter and take action accordingly.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg13_1