BJP MP Jamyang Saring Nangyal has questioned the government of his own party in the Lok Sabha if the mobile service has not started in 350 villages of Ladakh so far. He questioned when the Telecom Ministry would fulfill the promise of introducing mobile service in these villages bordering Pakistan and China. He asked when the digitalization of Ladakh would take place. When will the ministry start working towards improving communication services in Ladakh. On raising this issue, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha directed the Communications Minister that the issues raised should be resolved soon.
BJP MP from Ladakh Nangyal on Wednesday raised the issue of communication service loudly in the Parliament, while circulating the Ministry of Communications. He voiced the need to establish satellite phone service in remote areas citing unfulfilled promises to improve communication services. He said that 344 digital satellite phone terminals in Ladakh have been damaged for several months.
Taking up the issue during zero hour, Nangyal reminded that he had raised the issue in Parliament in July as well. Memorandums were also submitted to the minister. After this it was assured that 125 mobile towers would be set up in Ladakh with the Universal Service Obligation Fund. Of these, 53 towers were to be located in Leh and 72 in Kargil. Till date this announcement of the ministry is limited to papers only.
Surrounding the ministry on the Universal Service Obligation Fund, Jamyang said it was a joke to pay just Rs 12 lakh for mobile service in the last five years. 9.14 lakhs were given in 2016, 1.34 lakhs in 2017 and Rs 1.54 lakhs in 2018.
