the current condition laid down by GoK is that construction is to begin before 15 August 2005 and be completed in 18 months, and that apparently is the reason that Tourism Minister Sri D.T. Jayakumar announced the guddali pooja on 12 August 2005. Notwithstanding the fact that a contract may have been concluded, the people of Mysore oppose the ropeway and insist and demand (i) That the project be scrapped immediately and permanently on grounds of irreparable and irreversible damage to the environment and heritage of Chamundi betta and Mysore as a whole, and the contract be cancelled, (ii) That the land on Chamundi betta that was handed over to the contractor be resumed by GoK by 31 August 2005 and re-forested, And further demand (iii) That the area that has been suggested by MATF as a buffer zone for Chamundi betta be immediately notified by GoK as such, and fenced to prevent further encroachment, (iv) That present encroachments be removed forthwith, and (v) That GoK should institute an inquiry into the circumstances under which the contract for the ropeway was concluded without proper consultation. We request you to urgently pass instructions to concerned officials to stop the guddali pooja and move matters according to the demands made above. Yours faithfully, (Dr.H.A.B.PARPIA) (Maj Gen S.G.VOMBATKERE, VSM (Retd)) (Dr.BHAMY V. SHENOY) (Sri M. LAKSHMANA) (Sri GURU KIRAN) CABLE TV: MISUSE OF MONOPLY POWER (Aug 2005) Bhamy V. Shenoy Mysore Grahakara Parishat Any monopoly owned whether by the government or private companies unless regulated properly will extract undue advantage from helpless consumers and overcharge them. In the case of a monopoly, supplier is the real King and not the consumer as should be the case. In our city today, Cable Operators in Mysore with the exception of very few are actually acting as kings today. They are able to charge whatever they like.
Finally our government has instituted Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC) in every state to control a monopoly as a result of consumer organizations and the World Bank. It is true that price for power has not come down yet. At least CHESCORP cannot unilaterally increase price as they used to do. The whole process of revising tariff has become more transparent today. As ERCs get more experience of analyzing power companies and also consumer protection NGOs like MGP develop greater professional expertise, consumer interests will be more protected. We urgently need such regulatory bodies for such monopolies as Water supply, railways, Bus Transportation (when government does not allow private bus companies) etc. There is absolutely no meaningful regulation to control the Cable TV industry today. It is true that by allowing free market forces, consumers were able to get cable TV connection in the shortest possible time. At the same time, Cable TV industry also has managed to extract obscene profits from consumers through their monopoly power. They can demand any amount of deposit while giving fresh connections and charge monthly rents in an arbitrary manner. Often they do not give receipts. Though consumer can file complaints against such wrong doings in consumer courts, it may not be advisable. These consumer courts are acting today like civil courts with giving adjournments at the drop of a hat. Also cable TV operators may take grudge against consumers for filing cases. There are three strategies consumers can adapt to force Cable TV operators to be consumer-friendly. MGP has been asking consumers to form their own company in their area and to give connection. Capital required to start a company is about Rs 4.0 lakhs. However there is a hitch. The current cable operator may create problem by cutting cables of the new company or such high handed mafia type activity. Also Multi-System Operators who supply signals may not treat the new entrant fairly. Despite such odds, one can start a new company and give competition. There have been such successful instances of competition in areas like Yadavagiri. The second strategy is to force the government to bring about a comprehensive regulation to monitor cable TV industry and to control tariffs. This requires a strong consumer movement. Do we have such a strong consumer movement in India today? The third strategy is to boycott the cable operator en masse whenever he behaves in an arbitrary manner with the consumers. This again requires a strong consumer awareness. Do we have such consumer activism in Mysore? If we cannot implement any of the above three strategies, consumers will continue to suffer under the monopoly power of cable operators till it becomes totally unbearable resulting in unrest. Press Release Dr. Bhamy V. Shenoy, Mysore Grahakara Parishat OIL PRICE INCREASE AND FAULTY AUTORICKSHAW METERS (Sep 10, 2005)