Service made available only in 204 GPs so far
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 18: As over 4400 Gram Panchayats and Block Headquarters in Jammu and Kashmir have yet not been provided broadband connectivity, the concerned authorities are unlikely to meet the deadline for implementation of BharatNet project in the State fixed by the Union Ministry of Communication.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that National Optical Fibre Network (NoFN), now renamed as BharatNet project, was launched in 2012 with the approval of Union Cabinet provided in October 2011. However, progress had been slow across the country and the actual work on the project commenced only in the second half of 2014.
The project involves connecting all Gram Panchayats in the country to the Block Headquarters for provision of both bandwidth and dark fibre on a universal and non-discriminatory basis. The objective behind this project is to ensure positive impact on GDP growth besides providing quicker, transparent and cost effective governance to the people.
However, implementation of the project has not picked up required momentum in Jammu and Kashmir till date because of the dilly-dallying approach of the concerned authorities and lack of cooperation from the State Government agencies, sources said.
This slow pace of work on the project can be gauged from the official figures, which reveal that as on July 8, 2018, a total of 549 kilometers long optical fibre cable has been laid since the launch of BharatNet project in Jammu and Kashmir.
Of 549 kilometer long optical fibre cable, 278 kilometer has been laid for Gram Panchayats and till date service has been made ready only in 204 Gram Panchayats.
However, 4426 Gram Panchayats and Block Headquarters are yet to be connected with broadband. Of these, 273 Gram Panchayats and Block Headquarters are in Budgam district, 136 in Bandipora, 248 in Doda, 110 in Kargil, 147 in Kishtwar, 215 in Kulgam, 400 in Kupwara, 109 in Leh, 200 in Poonch, 206 in Pulwama, 315 in Rajouri, 135 in Ramban, 159 in Reasi, 112 in Shopian, 60 in Srinagar, 235 in Udhampur, 320 in Anantnag, 405 in Baramulla, 104 in Ganderbal, 192 in Jammu, 267 in Kathua and 78 in Samba.
“With such a huge number of Gram Panchayats and Block Headquarters yet to get broadband connectivity, the target fixed for implementation of Bharatnet by the Union Communication Ministry is unlikely to be met in Jammu and Kashmir”, sources said.
It is pertinent to mention here that target to connect all the Gram Panchayats with broadband connectivity through an optimal mix of media (OFC, radio and satellite media) is March 2019. “How, 4426 Gram Panchayats and Block Headquarters could be provided broadband connectivity during remaining nine months remains a million dollar question”, sources said.
“Actually only few working months have been left for the implementation of BharatNet project in Jammu and Kashmir in the light of the fact that during winter months it is not only difficult but impossible to lay optical fibre in those districts which witness snowfall”, they further said.
It is pertinent to mention here that number of Gram Panchayats and Block Headquarters which are yet to be connected with broadband under BharatNet project is more in those districts which witness heavy snowfall.
“The broadband link between Block Headquarters and Gram Panchayats is imperative to establish citizen centric services such as e-health, e-education and e-governance etc”, sources said, adding “BharatNet is also aimed at achieving Union Government’s goal of providing affordable digital services in the rural areas”.
Due to delay in extension of BharatNet connectivity to over 4400 Gram Panchayats and Block Headquarters in Jammu and Kashmir how many facilities have remained out of the reach of the people so far can be easily gauged.
“Had there been proper coordination between the project executing agency and concerned authorities of the State much headway could have been made in the implementation of BharatNet project in the State”, sources said and hoped that all the concerned authorities will make collective efforts to gear up the implementation of BharatNet in the State.
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