Digging incident must not serve as precedent

Representational image. Pic/iStock

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) administration has instructed all assistant commissioners and ward-level officers to immediately report to the police any unauthorised digging in the area under their supervision. The direction comes after thieves dug up a footpath in Matunga and stole around 103 metres of copper phone cables worth Rs 6.78 lakh.

MTNL had started receiving a large number of complaints from customers about dead telephones, after which the company learnt that the cables it had laid under the footpath between Dadar TT Circle and Maheshwari Udyan had been stolen.

More effective patrolling and maintaining a robust police presence could help stop such crimes. Signage warning Mumbaikars about unauthorised digging can also be considered.

While it may be difficult for citizens, if a layperson sees digging late at night, especially of a footpath, he may want to inform the police. People must not go directly and confront the diggers as that may turn out to be dangerous. If a complaint is received then, it is up to the cops to investigate such incidents quickly. For that, there has to be smooth coordination and clear communication with the civic authorities. BMC personnel, too, must report cases of unauthorised digging immediately.

This is a shockingly bold move, as digging a footpath takes preparation and it cannot be done covertly. The darkness does give some cover, but there is always the danger of being caught.

There are certain piped gas lines near buildings too. There are warnings against digging. There is an outside chance that these may get damaged. Stay wary and let this dangerous and criminal digging not serve as a precedent for theft in other spaces in the city.