“I have filed a complaint through the State Directorate of Information & Publicity. I had asked the firm to restore the cable transmission to the consumers by 4pm yesterday but they failed,” she told this reporter.

The collector has been holding a series of meeting with the local cable operator and the MSO to ensure the consumers do not face any inconvenience. 

The shutting down of the service without prior notice to the consumers has created a panic situation in the State. The district administration had warned to file a complaint with the TRAI during the meeting.

“Many consumers have complained to us that cable transmission was disconnected without prior notice and it isn’t restored till date. Initially, few channels were phase-wise withdrawn but there was a complete shut down in the last two days. We have asked the MSO to restore the connection else I will file a complaint with the TRAI,” she told reporters following a meeting with the local cable operators and the MSO representatives.

The entire north district, and Ponda and Margao talukas have been the worst affected due to the cable shutdown. Repeated complaints to the respective cable operators did not yield result forcing them to approach the Collector. “We had been constantly inquiring with our cable operators about the connection but in vain. They then stopped receiving our calls,” said a consumer Rahul Tripathi.

Another consumer from Panjim, a housewife said that they had even visited the office of the local cable operator but they shed their responsibility of their shoulders. “When we went with a complaint, the staff in the office did not give us any assurance. They were not interested in our complaints,” she said.

After the warning from the collector, the cable service was partially restored in certain areas.

Team TNV