(a) whether the Government has formulated any scheme and sanctioned funds to make the services of BSNL better in rural areas of Jharkhand especially in Santhal Pargana;
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government proposes to install mobile towers especially in the villages and remote areas of Jharkhand having less population; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS &
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)
(a) & (b) Mobile connectivity in inhabited and uncovered villages in the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas under LWE Phase-I project funded by Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) was implemented through Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). In this project total 816 mobile towers have been installed and commissioned in Jharkhand (including 118 mobile towers in Santhal Pargana Division) at the cost of Rs.602.99 crore. Apart from installation of these mobile towers, 114 old mobile towers have been replaced by new towers in Jharkhand State including replacement of 23 old mobile towers with new towers in Santhal Pargana Division.
(c) & (d) Under LWE Phase-II project, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has identified for setting up 4072 mobile towers in various uncovered parts of LWE States. This project has been approved by the cabinet on 23-05-2018 and will be funded by USOF. In Jharkhand 1054 mobile towers will be set up including 86 mobile towers in Santhal Pargana Division.
Under Phase VIII.4 mobile network expansion project of BSNL, installation of 197 2G, 249 3G and 290 4G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) are planned in Jharkhand, out of which 17 3G BTS are planned for Santhal Pargana Division.