Parliament Question: Damage to Drinking Water Pipelines due to 5G Cables

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 263 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11TH MARCH, 2026 DAMAGE TO DRINKING WATER PIPELINES DUE TO 5G CABLES †*263. SHRI SHER SINGH GHUBAYA: Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state: (a) whether complaints have been received regarding damage caused to drinking water pipelines during the laying of 5G cables by mobile companies in Ferozepur, Guru Har Sahay, Fazilka, Malout, Abohar and Sri Muktsar Sahib areas of Punjab and if so, the details thereof; (b) the action taken so far against such companies; and (c) whether the Government proposes to issue strict guidelines to prevent damage to drinking water pipelines in the future and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION (SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA) (a) to (c) A statement is laid on the Table of the House. 1STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) to (c) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 263 FOR 11TH MARCH, 2026 REGARDING “DAMAGE TO DRINKING WATER PIPELINES DUE TO 5G CABLES.” (a) & (b) As per the information available on the CBuD platform, certain complaints have been raised by telecom operators regarding unreported excavations. However, no complaints have been lodged on the platform by the agency responsible for drinking water supply regarding any damage to drinking water pipelines during the laying of telecom cables. (c) The Government has already taken several measures to prevent damage to drinking water pipelines and other underground utilities, including the following: (i) The Telecommunication (Right of Way) Rules, 2024 (“RoW Rules”) have been made under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 to enable public entities to specify their terms and conditions at the time of grant of right of way permissions and to provide for safeguards for undertaking telecommunication infrastructure deployment works. (ii) The Call Before u Dig (CBuD) mobile app has been made available to facilitate better coordination between excavation agencies and underground utility asset owners before any excavation and to prevent accidental damage to underground utility infrastructure such as optical fibre cables, drinking water pipelines, electric cables and gas pipelines etc. The Government has requested all States and Union territories (UTs) to mandate the use of the CBuD mobile app by various department and agencies, such as Public Works Department, urban local bodies and water, gas and electricity utilities, pursuant to which the Government of Punjab has issued a notification dated 7.2.2025 mandating such use by all departments within the State. In addition, the Central Government has also requested all State/UT Governments and infrastructure-related Ministries of the Central Government to issue necessary directions to map their underground utility assets on the Prime Minister GatiShakti National Master Plan (PM GatiShakti) platform, with a view to enhance the effectiveness and utility of the CBuD mobile app. (iii) The aforesaid Act also provides for compensation in case of damage to telecommunications network established under the provisions of the Act and the RoW Rules provide the procedure for claiming compensation. Governments of all States and UTs have been advised by the Department of Telecommunications to issue a government order on lines similar to the RoW Rules to provide the procedure for claiming compensation for damage to underground utilities of departments and agencies in the State in case their assets are damaged due to excavation by any agency or contractor. ***** 2