Question : TELEPHONE FACILITY

(a) whether the Government propose to connect Seohar, Sitamarhi and East Champaran districts consisting 18 Blocks in Bihar with district headquarters and the village blocks;

(b) if so, the details therefor ;

(c) whether telephone in Seohar district remain out of order ;

(d) if so, the reasons therefore and the action taken by the Government to make them proper functional ; and

(e) the time by which the Village Public Telephone (VPT) facility is likely to be provided in the villages of said districts ?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI TAPAN SIKDAR)

(a) & (b) Yes, Sir. Our of 49 Block Headquarters(BHQ) in Seohar, Sitamarhi & East Champaran districts 42 BHQs have so far been provided connectivity with District Headquarters as per details given below:

District	Total No. of Blocks	No. of BHQs having Direct	Connectivity with District	Headquarters.
Seohar	04	02
Sitamarhi	18	16
East Champaran	27	24