Goa Inc slams govt over cable-cutting, failing ‘Digital India’ vision

Panaji: In a scathing indictment of the state administration, nine of Goa’s leading industrial bodies came together to protest the recurring disruption of internet services caused by the electricity department’s ongoing cable-cutting drives. The business community warned that these actions were not only crippling productivity but were also in direct conflict with the Prime Minister’s ‘Digital India’ mission.

The industrial bodies wrote a joint letter to chief minister Pramod Sawant to express deep frustration over the “deteriorating” situation, noting that previous assurances from state to resolve the issue were ignored. The groups argued that while govt promotes “ease of doing business” to attract investment, the reality on the ground is one of constant connectivity hurdles.


“The recurring instances of cable cutting and disruptions to internet services have once again become a major challenge,” the statement read, adding that the momentum of the Prime Minister’s vision to empower citizens with stable broadband “seems to be losing momentum in Goa.”

An industry representative said that Sawant asked the chief secretary to convene a meeting with other department officials to resolve the issue. The electricity department cut fibre optic cables in Margao on Wednesday, damaging the main feed lines of ISPs like Allegra, Big Ventures and others, which affected Borda, Fatorda, Gogol, Margao town, Aquem and nearby areas.

The industry bodies that signed the joint statement are Goa Technology Association, Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Travel and Tourism Association of Goa, Goa State Industries Association, Credai, Assocham, BNI-Goa, Laghu Udyog Bharati and Goa IT Business Association.

The industrial bodies pointed out a glaring lack of infrastructure planning, noting that businesses cannot afford to be held hostage by a lack of stable internet. To resolve the crisis, they demanded that internet service providers (ISPs) be directed and supported to deploy underground cables from main towns.