Chief Minister Harish Rawat met the Union Minister of State for Telecom (Independent Charge) Manoj Sinha here in Delhi on Tuesday during which the CM apprised him of the progress of the first phase of NOFN (National Optical Fibre Network), now going on in 27 out of 95 blocks of the State.
However, they do not include the blocks involving the Char Dhams- Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Even they do not include any of the blocks of the three districts out of 13 districts-Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Pithoragarh.
CM also appealed to the Union Minister to install low power solar battery operated mobile tower under USO (universal service obligation) in 89 places across the districts bordering with neighbouring countries. He said that as the Centre is installing 47 towers at ITBP/SSB check posts out of 89 identified places Uttarakhand should have the same facility to be installed to ensure that it has low power solar batter operated mobile tower under USO. Notably, an aerial OFC along electricity poles and low power solar battery operated Mobile Tower would be installed at 89 locations along the international border areas to be funded by USO Fund besides 47 ITBP/SSP check posts being taken by Ministry of Home Affairs through BSNl.
Mobile companies contribute few percent of their total turn over in USO. currently it is in thosands of crore and the fund is being used in remote areas connectivity.
CM Rawat said that under NOFN, works in the first phase of Aerial OFC (Optical fibre cable) should involve Joshimath and Ukhimath in Chamoli district, Bhatwadi and Nauganv at Gangotri and Yamunotri in Uttarkashi district and international border Dhachula (part in Pithoragarh district) and five blocks of Pithoragarh district. Besides, he tried to impress the minister to include 47 new places under USG capital (investment) in the mobile towers installation process.
CM Rawat further told the Union minister that the remote areas keep suffering from connectivity problems which are aggravated during the time of disaster. Things would improve if the Centre steps in, CM said, adding that they had already apprised the former Telecom and IT minister about the geographical condition of the areas thus selected by the state government for the launching of communication projects.