New Delhi, July 21: Proper
digital connectivity of all post offices in the country is top priority
for the Government, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told the Lok
Sabha here on Monday.Replying to questions
related to his Ministry, Prasad said the Prime Minister was personally
monitoring a host of departments and postal services were one of them.
“The Prime Minister
spent about one-and-a half–hours on the postal department and has given
suggestions, which will be considered,” he said, in reply to a query by
Biju Janata Dal’s Tathagata Satapathy on the status of the banking
licence applied for by the postal department. Prasad
said there was need for reforms in postal reforms as also upgradation
of Grameen Dak Ghar Services, catering to the rural population.
Mobile networks :
Prasad said the Government’s priority was also to improve BSNL services. Responding
to a question raised by Congress MP Ashok Chavan on poor mobile network
in Naxal-affected regions in Maharashtra, Prasad said mobile networks,
under the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) scheme in such areas
are likely to be set up in 15 months.A proposal to install mobile towers at 1,836 locations in nine States affected by Left Wing Extremism with funding support from USOF has already been approved, he added.
The Minister said Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) had installed mobile towers at 363 locations for which financial support to meet operational expenses would be provided through USOF.On a question on lack of
diesel supplies to BSNL mobile towers leading to their
non-functionality and affecting security, he admitted there were
concerns on diesel supply and “there is scope for improvement“.The idea of using solar
power for telecom towers was also being looked into, especially in the
hilly regions of North East, Prasad said.