(a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that the Security Forces and locals along the international borders in Uttarakhand are using telecom services of Nepal;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has conducted any inquiry in this regard;
(d) if so, the details and the outcome thereof; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government to check such cases in future?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)
(a) & (b): Security forces do not use Telecom services of Nepal on International Border in Uttarakhand. People residing along the Indo-Nepal border are dependent on the services of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). However, there are inputs that due to week signals of BSNL, locals residing in bordering remote areas of Uttarakhand sometimes use Nepali mobile services which are accessible along the border areas.
(c) to (e) : Improvement in Telecom Services is the domain of Ministry of Communication & IT. Department of Telecom (DoT) has been asked to examine into this matter and take appropriate steps to improve the mobile services in these areas.
******