Phone services hinge on meet

VADODARA, June 21: For hundreds of telephone subscribers across Vadodara city, the resuscitation of their dead telephone hinges precariou...

VADODARA, June 21: For hundreds of telephone subscribers across Vadodara city, the resuscitation of their dead telephone hinges precariously on Tuesday8217;s crucial meeting between the officials of the Department of Telecommunication and the Vadodara Municipal Corporation.

While the two departments are bracing themselves for the meeting 8212; to be attended by Municipal Commissioner G R Aloria and Vadodara Telecom General Manager Rakesh Babu 8212; officials hope it will bring an end to the week-old war of words. But, going by the meeting agenda, only the naive would believe sparks are unlikely to fly.

High on the DoT agenda will be the demand for compensation for the damaged cables. Officials will also try to convey that it was the reckless digging by the VMC which triggered the controversy. Besides, an attempt will be made to convince the VMC to consult the DoT before taking up any road-widening project.

In stark contrast, the VMC plans to table documentary evidence to pin the blame on the DoT. Pictures of cables laid well above the specified depth will be shown. The VMC is likely to refuse to pay compensation, on the ground that the damage was caused by the violation of the cable-laying norms. They will also take up the issue of cables being laid by the DoT without informing the VMC.

The only point on which the two will readily agree, according to sources, is that they shouldn8217;t wash their dirty linen in public.

Expressing hope that confidence-building measures would be discussed, Babu said on the eve of the meeting, 8220;We8217;ll try to find out ways to improve the coordination between the two agencies so that any kind of misunderstanding is cleared.8221;

But he is determined to stick to his demand for compensation for the damaged cables. 8220;Why would we drop the claim? It will be there in the agenda,8221; he said.

When it was pointed out that the VMC8217;s agenda clearly rules out paying any compensation, Babu said, 8220;There is no in point seeking faults in each other8217;s functioning8230;. We need to talk seriously8221;.

On the other hand, the VMC believes the DoT is suffering because of its own mistakes. 8220;They were the ones to violated the norms and then rush to the Press, accusing us of reckless digging. quot;If they had any grouse they could have talked it out with us without going public,8221; said a civic engineer.

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Telecom sources said that major repair work on the faults depended on the monsoon, when the extent of the damage will become clear. It will also hinge on the outcome of Tuesday8217;s meeting. 8220;We will see what happens at the meeting and then chalk out a major restoration plan,8221; a Telecom official said.