Rs 136 cr allocated for expansion of telecom services in JK: Centre

Centre has allocated Rs 136 crore for expansion of telecom services in Jammu And Kashmir State in 2 years.

The allocations provided also include funds under Universal Obligation Service Fund (USOF).

Giving details to the Lok Sabha, Union Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that during the financial years 2014-15 and 2015-16, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) allocated Rs 42.61 crore and Rs. 93.43 crore funds respectively for Jammu and Kashmir for expansion of communication services in the state.

“In addition to this, under Universal Obligation Service Funds  Rs. 27 lakhs have been provided in the financial year 2014-15 and Rs 39 lakh in 2015-16 towards expansion of communication services in Jammu and Kashmir State”, Prasad replied to a written query of Member Parliament (MP) from Jammu and Kashmir, Thupstan  Chhewang.

The Member Parliament (MP) had asked for the details of schemes and projects taken up and total funds sanctioned to the state during the financial year 2014-15 and 2015-16 for expansion of telecommunication services in Jammu and Kashmir.

On progress under National Optical Fiber Network (NOFN) scheme in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Minister said that the scheme is being implemented in 12 Districts, 22 Blocks and 624 Gram Panchayats (GPs)of the state.

“Under NOFN, 1068 Km area Incremental cable is to be laid in the state and as of now, pipes have been laid in 55 Km area and cable has been laid in 49 kilometers area”, he added.

The MP, in the written question had also sought to know whether the central government has received any comprehensive proposal for expansion of telecommunication services in J&K particularly in Ladakh region to be funded under USO   funds.

To this query, the Union Minister replied that the government has not received any proposal for the expansion of telecom services under USO funds especially in Ladakh region.