DC Anantnag reviews Telecom Infrastructure, Connectivity Issues

ANANTNAG: To deliberate on various issues related to telecommunication infrastructure and connectivity across the district Anantnag, a meeting of the District Telecom Committee was today held under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Bilal Mohiud Din Bhat at the DC Office.

Among others, the meeting was attended by ADC, SEs PWD (R&B) and PDD (KPDCL) Bijbehara, ACR, ACD, CMO, Exens PDD, Wildlife Warden SKD, DFOs, DO PCC, Divisional Engineer BSNL, DIO NIC and representatives of telecom service providers including Jio and Airtel. 

During the meeting it was informed that land for 39 BSNL sites across various tehsils of the district had been allotted earlier. Mutation extracts for 10 sites have already been received and forwarded to BSNL. Remaining Tehsildars were directed to submit mutation extracts.

Regarding Uranhall and Batengoo sites, where local objections were raised, the Tehsildar Anantnag informed that alternate adjacent land has been identified. A proposal for 20 additional sites of strategic importance was reviewed. Land has been identified for 8 sites and reports forwarded to BSNL.Ten sites fall within forest areas, and the DFOs were directed to process proposals on the PARIVESH Portal ensuring essential connectivity such as road access and power supply. 

BSNL representatives informed that it has identified 166 shadow areas in the district lacking mobile connectivity under the 4G Saturation Project. The Committee directed officials to complete all codal formalities in advance, pending formal technical sanction. The meeting informed that four applications for BharatNet Project – ROW Permissions received through the Central ROW Portal have been approved.

Regarding connectivity issue at Aru, Pahalgam (Jio Tower Proposal), the Wildlife Department and Jio representatives were directed to conduct a joint site visit and submit a fresh proposal for further consideration. On proposal for installation of an Airtel tower at Laddi on Kahcharie land, 10 Marlas of vacant land adjacent to the Bijbehara–Pahalgam Road have been identified. The Wildlife Warden was directed to examine the site and submit a report at an early date.

Taking stock of power supply to BSNL sites, the chair directed the SE PDD to expedite the work on power supply to these sites at Arwani, Uranhall and Mandhana. Further, the chair directed a joint survey by Forest, Revenue and Indus Towers officials for further action on proposal of 10 Airtel towers on SANJY route from Betab Valley to the Holy Cave.

At conclusion, the DC emphasized the importance of expediting telecom infrastructure projects to improve mobile connectivity, especially in remote and strategic areas of the district. All concerned departments were directed to adhere strictly to the timelines fixed during the meeting so that the objectives are realised.