POONCH: Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Ashok Kumar Sharma today chaired a meeting of the District Telecom Committee (DTC) to review telecommunication services, network connectivity issues and the progress of mobile tower installations across the district.
The Deputy Commissioner conducted a project-wise review of mobile tower installations being executed under various saturation projects aimed at enhancing mobile and broadband coverage, particularly in remote and underserved areas.
Detailed deliberations were held on the Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP), with progress updates presented by PIA/BSNL. Key issues discussed included Right of Way (RoW) permissions, utilization of local street furniture for BharatNet connectivity and the need for centralised application and billing mechanisms for electricity connections in Gram Panchayats.
The committee also reviewed the availability of space for BharatNet equipment in Panchayat Bhawans or alternative locations, along with matters related to the safety and security of installed infrastructure. Local rollout challenges highlighted by PIA/BSNL, maintenance support issues and the importance of adopting CBuD (Call Before You Dig) protocols were also discussed. Emphasis was laid on ensuring broadband connectivity to village-level government institutions through BharatNet.
The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Tahir Mustafa Malik, SE PWD (R&B), DIO NIC, Parvinder Singh, Dysp Hqr. Neeraj Sharma, CMO, Dr. Parvaiz Ahmed Khan, Executive Engineer JPDCL, Aftab Ahmed, DFO(T), Mushtaq Ahmed, CEO Municipality, Khalil Ahmed Banday, District Pollution Control Board Officer, SDO BSNL besides others .