Summary:
The Union Minister for Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region informed the Lok Sabha that the government has taken several measures to prevent damage to drinking water pipelines and other underground utilities during the installation of telecom infrastructure. While telecom operators have reported some cases of unreported excavation on the Call Before u Dig (CBuD) platform, no complaints have been filed by the drinking water supply agency regarding pipeline damage during telecom cable laying in several areas of Punjab. The government has introduced safeguards such as the Telecommunication Right of Way (RoW) Rules, 2024 under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, promoted the use of the CBuD mobile app for better coordination before excavation, and encouraged states and departments to map underground assets on the PM GatiShakti platform. Additionally, provisions for compensation and procedures for claims in case of damage to telecom networks or underground utilities have also been established.
The Union Minister for Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region informed the Lok Sabha in a written response that the government has introduced several steps aimed at preventing damage to drinking water pipelines and other underground utility infrastructure during the installation of telecommunications networks.
According to information available on the Call Before u Dig (CBuD) platform, telecom operators have submitted certain complaints regarding excavation activities that were carried out without prior reporting. However, the agency responsible for drinking water supply has not filed any complaints on the platform concerning damage to drinking water pipelines during the laying of telecom cables in the areas of Ferozepur, Guru Har Sahai, Fazilka, Malout, Abohar and Sri Muktsar Sahib in Punjab.
The minister noted that the government has already implemented a number of initiatives to safeguard drinking water pipelines and other underground utilities, including the following:
• The Telecommunication Right of Way (RoW) Rules, 2024 have been notified under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. These rules enable public authorities to define specific terms and conditions when granting RoW permissions and include safeguards for the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure.
• The CBuD mobile application has been introduced to improve coordination between excavation agencies and owners of underground utility assets before any digging work begins. Its objective is to prevent accidental damage to underground infrastructure such as optical fibre cables, drinking water pipelines, electric lines and gas pipelines. The government has urged all states and Union Territories (UTs) to make the use of the CBuD app mandatory for various departments and agencies, including public works departments, urban local bodies and utilities providing water, gas and electricity. In line with this request, the Government of Punjab issued a notification on February 7, 2025, requiring all state departments to use the application. Additionally, the central government has asked state and UT administrations, as well as infrastructure-related ministries, to map their underground utility assets on the Prime Minister GatiShakti National Master Plan platform in order to improve the effectiveness and functionality of the CBuD app.
• The Telecommunications Act also provides for compensation in cases where telecommunications networks established under the Act are damaged. The RoW Rules outline the procedure for claiming such compensation. The Department of Telecommunications has advised all state and UT governments to issue similar government orders based on the RoW Rules. These orders would establish procedures for claiming compensation if underground utilities belonging to state departments or agencies are damaged due to excavation activities carried out by any agency or contractor.
