Question : CELLULAR TELEPHONY TOWERS

(a) whether the Government has made any assessment in respect of consumption of diesel by diesel generator sets used for powering cellular telephony towers in the country;

(b) if so, the details of the quantity of diesel consumed during the last three years, year and State/UT-wise;

(c) the total subsidy borne by the Government towards the consumption of diesel by such diesel generator sets for the last three years and the current year, year-wise; and

(d) the steps taken by the Government to check the use of subsidised diesel for powering cellular telephony towers?

THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) No assessment has been made in respect of consumption of diesel by diesel generator sets used for powering cellular telephony towers in the country.

(b) Not applicable in view of (a) above.

(c) The diesel available in the market is being used by the operators in operating the cellular mobile towers in Telecom Sector.

(d) Govt. has issued directives for use of Renewable Energy Technology (RET) in Telecom sector to reduce use of diesel consumption for powering cellular telephony towers.