Divisional Commissioner, Dr Raghav Langer today chaired a meeting of Regional heads of mobile service provider companies to review the action plan formulated by them to provide/improve mobile connectivity in the shadow areas, far flung areas and border areas of Jammu division.The Div Com said that facilitating connectivity in the far flung, difficult and border areas was the top priority of the Government to improve the quality of life of the local people as well as those working in these areas.He said that the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has planned to develop several new tourist destinations in all the districts of Jammu division and the Deputy Commissioners have shared the list of locations/ tourist destinations that have poor mobile connectivity. He mentioned that there were specific directions from the office of the Lieutenant Governor to facilitate the development of infrastructure of telecom companies to improve/ provide better mobile connectivity in the districts.The Div Com also highlighted that the need of mobile/ internet connectivity was felt during the ongoing pandemic as the schools are providing education through online mode and many far flung areas, especially hilly districts faced this problem and the Government is planning to break all these barriers.During the meeting, the service providers elaborated that various projects are being implemented by them in districts of Jammu division to provide connectivity in remote and shadow areas. They informed about the already covered areas and those which they are planning to provide the services. It was informed that BSNL, JIO, Airtel have implemented various projects and some of them are near completion.The mobile service providers also apprised the Div Com about files of NOCs pending in at different levels. Under the JKCCIP (J&K Communication and Connectivity Infrastructure Policy- 2020); DCs are the District Appropriate Authorities for grant of time bound permissions and resolve issues. The policy provides for dispute resolution mechanism also between mobile service provider and private persons.While reviewing the action plan for covering border villages, the meeting was informed that some files are lying with the defense/Army authorities for approval. As per DoT guidelines requisite approvals are required from concerned Local Military Authorities for erection of towers within 10 kms of border fencing.The Div Com directed the concerned officers to expedite the process and resolve all the pending files if the service providers meet the security parameters (guidelines) so as to ensure connectivity in border areas.The Deputy Commissioners also apprised the Div Com about the uncovered areas of their respective districts and the service providers informed about the action plan for each location.The Div Com directed the DCs to appoint nodal officers at district and sub division level to coordinate with the service providers and to facilitate the work on infrastructural development projects. He also instructed the service providers to share the updated list of the pending cases with the concerned DCs so that the process can be expedited.The meeting was attended by Additional Commissioner Jammu, Joint Director Information, SSP Telecommunication Jammu, Regional Heads/representatives of BSNL, Reliance JIO, Airtel, Vodafone/Idea, 16 cops, and other concerned while Deputy Commissioners of Jammu division along with other concerned officers attended the meeting through video conferencing.
