Question : OUT OF ORDER TELEPHONES

(a) whether the Telephone communications to each block head quarters, the Gram Panchayats, Health Centres and the Police Station are mostly found disorder and 50% of the Sub-Divisional Government Head Quarters run in Tripura dislinked from the other parts of the State and country due to nonfunctioning of telephones;

(b) if so, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether these problems have been created due to non-supply of required machinery accessories and electronic equipments; and

(d) if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI TAPAN SIKDAR)

(a) & (b): No, Sir. However, telecom services in few sub-divisional Head Quarters and Block Headquarters & Gram Panchayats are not up to the mark due to unreliable transmission media. Plan is made to provide reliable transmission media to all exchanges and new technology like wireless in local loop for VPTs in a phased manner.

(c) No, Sir.

(d) Does not arise in view of (c) above.