Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar Jan 7 : A non-functional mobile tower of the state-owned telecom company, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited has disrupted cellular and data network services in Tapper and Kreeri areas of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district since last week and affected thousands of subscribers.
Sources in the PDD said that they cut the electricity of the mobile tower after BSNL failed to clear the outstanding power bill. They said that the electricity supply was snapped after the telephone company turned down the multiple reminders of the department. “We requested them several times to deposit the bill but they failed. I think they are short of funds,” an official said.
While confirming the snapping of the electricity, Ahsan Ahamd, a concerned BSNL official, told Excelsior that the electric supply of the tower was cut by PDD after a delay in the payment of power tariff. “It takes some time to deposit the bill and we have started the process. It will take us a couple of days to clear the bill. Until then we are using a diesel generator to run the tower,” he said.
The residents, however, refuted the claims of the mobile company regarding making the tower functional by using generator. “They hardly run it and the officials often sell the oil meant for tower during power cuts,” a local said.
The lack of network has badly affected people who are working from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic as it has cut them off from their work, causing them major trouble. The worst hits are the business community of the areas as poor connectivity has affected their trade. Also, students missed their online classes for network issues.
The mobile towers cater to thousands of subscribes living in several villages of Baramulla including Kreeri, Tapper Dolipora ,Tilgam, Watergam, Karewa Waripora and Khesipora. The residents said a week has passed since the tower got disconnected, but no one has come to their rescue. “Despite repeated pleas no one has bothered to look into the matter. They seem to be least interested in our issues,” a local said.
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