By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Broadband and leased line services were crippled in the city’s commercial hub, Khyndailad after two BSNL pillars were dismantled by the Meghalaya Urban Development Authorities (MUDA) on Tuesday.
Sub-Divisional Engineer, Phones (Central) SR Sen lodged an FIR after the two pillars, situated in front of the under-construction MUDA complex site at Khyndailad, were uprooted by MUDA authorities.
Sen informed that approximately 1000 land lines and 800 broadband services along with a number of leased lines taken by banks have been affected due to the uprooting of the pillars.
He told reporters that the two pillars were uprooted with a JCB machine on Monday night.
According to Sen, the MUDA authorities had asked the BSNL to remove the pillars a year ago and accordingly steps were being taken to ensure the same.
“We were coordinating to remove the pillars and actions were being taken to shift the pillars to a nearby site. But it is a technical work and takes time,” he argued.
The BSNL has demanded compensation for the affected subscribers and also asked MUDA to pay Rs 2 lakh to the department for the damages to the properties.