Lok Sabha Question No. 1305 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-23
Subject: Telecom in Left Wing Extremist Areas
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1305 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 RD   NOVEMBER, 2016

## TELECOM IN LEFT WING EXTREMIST AREAS

1305. SHRI SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is considering to strengthen mobile network facility in the areas affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE);
- (b) if so, the steps being taken for selection of such areas to provide the network facility;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  received  complaints  regarding  poor  mobile service in rural and LWE affected districts including Bihar; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) to (d) Government  is  committed  to  strengthen  mobile  network  facility  in  the areas affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE).  2199 mobile towers are being set up in  Left  Wing  Extremism  (LWE)  affected  States  with  a  total  estimated  cost  of Rs.3567.58  crore.  The  work  is  being  executed  by  Bharat  Sanchar  Nigam  Limited (BSNL).    As  on  date,  2185  mobile  towers  are  made  operational  under  this  Project. These  locations  are  identified  by  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  (MHA).    Further,  no significant  complaint  has  been  received  for  the  mobile  towers  installed  under  this Project. State-wise breakup of LWE Mobile Towers is at Annexure.

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ANNEXURE State-wise breakup of mobile tower locations in LWE Affected Areas

| S. No.   | State          | No. of locations identified by MHA   |   No. of Mobile Towers Installed |
|----------|----------------|--------------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| 1.       | Andhra Pradesh | 54                                   |                               54 |
| 2.       | Bihar          | 184                                  |                              184 |
| 3.       | Chhattisgarh   | 497                                  |                              490 |
| 4.       | Jharkhand      | 782                                  |                              782 |
| 5.       | Maharashtra    | 60                                   |                               60 |
| 6.       | Madhya Pradesh | 22                                   |                               22 |
| 7.       | Odisha         | 253                                  |                              248 |
| 8.       | Telangana      | 173                                  |                              171 |
| 9.       | Uttar Pradesh  | 78                                   |                               78 |
| 10.      | West Bengal    | 96                                   |                               96 |
| Total    | Total          | 2,199                                |                             2185 |

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