(a) whether targets have been fixed by the Government to install new mobile towers in the Naxal affected areas;
(b) if so, the State-wise details thereof;
(c) the number of mobile towers made operational so far along with the location-wise details thereof;
(d) the reasons for not commissioning the leftover mobile towers; and
(e) the response of the Government thereto?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS &
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)
(a) The details are as below:
i) The cabinet approved the project of LWE Phase-I on 20-08-2014 for providing mobile connectivity in MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) identified 2355 tower locations in the left wing extremism affected areas.
ii) The cabinet has approved the project LWE Phase-II for providing mobile connectivity in 4072 MHA identified tower locations in the Left Wing Extremism affected areas in 96 districts of 10 states on 23-05-2018.
(b) State wise list is enclosed as Annexures 1 & 2.
(c) Total 2343 tower locations are made operational as on date under LWE Phase-I project. The details are at http://usof.gov.in/usof-cms/LWE_Phase_I.jsp
(d) & (e) 05 no’s of sites in Odisha could not be completed as Odisha State Government did not provide land due to security and other reasons. 07 sites in Chhattisgarh could not be made functional due to Naxal activities.