Question : TELECOM FACILITIES IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR



(a) the number of persons on the waiting list for telephone connections in Jammu and Kashmir at present, district-wise;

(b) the number of telephone connections allotted in the State during the last three years, district-wise;

(c) the number of telephone connections proposed to be provided during 2001-2002 and 2002-2003, location-wise;

(d) the time by which the waiting list is likely to be cleared;

(e) whether telephone services in Baramula region of the State are not functioning satisfactorily;

(f) if so, the reasons therefor; and
(g) the steps taken by the Government to improve the situation?

Answer given by the minister


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

(a) The number of persons on the waiting list for telephone connection in Jammu & Kashmir at present District wise is as under:

District	W/L	District	W/L
Leh 1353 Jammu 7310 Kargil 435 Shrinagar 10616 Rajouri 1346 Anantnag 2368 Poonch 391 Pulwama 2728 Udhampur 1330 Badgam 244 Doda 1135 Baramulla 4239 Kathua 1630 Kupwara 357



(b) No. of telephone connections allotted during last three years. Districtwise/Yearwise information is as under :
District	1997-98	1998-99	1999-2000 
Leh 426 345 439 Kargil 114 108 159 Rajouri 810 117 637 Poonch 663 103 203 Udhampur 1713 1126 1469 District 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000
Doda 114 546 249 Kathua 335 186 969 Jammu 3799 5133 8255 Shrinagar 9943 8521 6713 Anantnag 622 500 500 Pulwama 765 539 1006 Badgam 261 300 511 Baramulla 1101 430 516 Kupwara 153 41 440


(c) The no.of telephone connections proposed to be provided in whole of J&K Circle during 2001-02 is as mentioned below. The plan for provision of telephone connection during 2002-03 has not been finalised so far.
2001-2002	-	80000 
The District wise location for the above is yet to be finalised.

(d) The present waiting list is likely to be cleared by the year 2001-02.

(e & f) The telephone services in general are working satisfactorily in Baramulla region However, there is complaint about congestion in media. Baramulla as well as Kupwara is proposed to be linked through OFC by 2001-2002.

(g) The steps taken by the Government to improve the situation are as under:-


(i)Existing exchanges are being upgraded by installing higher capacity exchanges.
(ii) OFC is proposed to be laid in the area to improve the STD connectivity.
(iii) New cables are also being laid in the area to improve the outdoor plant.