Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy may dream of a clean, cable-free Hyderabad, but have you ever imagined our city without its signature mess of wires?
Every lane, street, and road boasts a generous display of dangling cables – an architectural feature so unique, that even pigeons and crows would be dismayed at its absence. Forget high-rise buildings or flyovers; it is the webs of cable TV, internet, and power lines that truly dominate our city’s horizon.
Parasites on poles
The streetlight poles and telephone poles serve a greater purpose than just illuminating our streets or connecting calls. They are the unofficial real estate of cable operators and internet providers, clinging on like freeloading tenants. These wires don’t just hang – they thrive. Flowering creepers, including the famed Thippa Teega or Giloy in Hindi (Tinospora Cordifolia, a herbaceous vine, and celebrated immunity booster), have found a nurturing home in this mess. The cables have, quite literally, gone green!
A kite-flyer gold mine
Come Sankranti, these cable clusters turn into treasure troves. Falling kites, with their strings and the much-dreaded ‘China manja’, find a ready resting place here. For kids (and thrifty adults), it is a free kite collection service. No climbing trees or scaling walls – a gentle tug on the wires and a brand-new kite! Sadly, this joy comes with a sharp edge. The infamous China manja, despite government warnings, continues to be sold, cutting down birds and even posing deadly risks to humans.
Where’s the charm in underground cables?
Revanth’s vision to bury power and communication cables underground within the Outer Ring Road limits sounds efficient and progressive – but think of the cost! Not just in money but in nostalgia. A neat, wire-free skyline? Practical, sure. But devoid of character. What will become of Hyderabad without its iconic cable nests? How will future generations know the thrill of free kites or the sight of a pole groaning under the weight of wires and creepers?
Solar dreams and grounded ambitions
The chief minister’s clean energy plans, solar-powered government buildings, and uninterrupted power supply ambitions are commendable. But let’s not forget the heart of the city – those sagging, swaying cables that have stood the test of time, storms, and power pilferage. Maybe Hyderabad doesn’t need a clean skyline. Maybe what we need is to embrace our mess, one tangled wire at a time.
Until then, let’s enjoy the view.
