CS reviews 4G coverage progress in uncovered villages

Jammu, Nov 28: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Thursday chaired a meeting of different stakeholders to take stock of the works started for bringing the uncovered villages under the 4G network coverage.

The chief secretary took this occasion to emphasise the implementing agency to make all the towers go on the air that had been erected so far.

He urged them that the local administration would extend every possible assistance in terms of seeking the necessary NoCs besides provisioning amenities like electricity to the sites of these towers.

The chief secretary directed the Power Development Department (PDD) to take measures to make the electric connections available to the telecom service providers as soon as they complete the work on the installation of towers there.

He also enjoined the BSNL to reconcile the figures about the untraceable and uninhabited villages with the Revenue Department so that no habitation remains a shadow area at the culmination of this scheme.

The CGM, BSNL informed the meeting that out of 852 sites proposed by BSNL, land at 722 sites was given by the Revenue Department.

He further made out that civil work was started at 593 sites with tower installation completed at 415 locations.

It was said that 306 towers had been made functional and the works for 99 more towers are currently under progress.

The status of forest clearances and power connections were discussed and the TSP was directed to complete the work within the set timeframe.

Later, the chief secretary, while reviewing the status of Bharat Net for providing broadband services to Gram Panchayats, stressed the executing agency to apprise the local administration about the functioning of the internet connectivity in each GP besides the usage in terms of data consumption registered by these Panchayats.

He advised the department to evolve a mechanism with private players who would use this network to provide services to the villagers while fetching some revenue to the government simultaneously.

The chief secretary asked to give the timeline for completing the second phase of this programme.

It was informed that under phase first 427 GPs were connected through OFC in J&K.

Under the second phase, it was said that 692 more Panchayats would be covered through VSAT.

The meeting also discussed the issue of power connections, watch and ward, and infrastructure upgradation in certain panchayat buildings so that the establishment of this facility becomes more beneficial to the public there.

Principal Secretary, IT and Finance Departments; Principal Secretary, PDD; Principal Secretary, APD and Forest Departments; Commissioner Secretary, H&UDD; Secretary, R&B; Secretary, RDD; Addl DG, BSNL; CGM, BSNL; MD, JPDCL and KPDCL also attended the meeting.