Red tape blocks crucial telecom project in Red Corridor

Despite security agencies having expressed serious concern over the lack of connectivity in Naxal-affected areas, the Department of Telecom (DoT) has delayed a crucial communication project that the government had decided to set up to counter the problem.
After a delay of nearly four years, the proposal for the setting up of over 2,200 telecom towers in nine Naxal-affected states, forming what is described as the 'Red Corridor', received a Cabinet nod on June 4 last.
But the decision on the selection of the roll-out is not getting finalised and the matter has now been referred to a committee at a meeting of DoT on Friday, official sources said.

The need for better communications in Naxal-affected areas was felt more strongly after the killing of Congress leader Mahendra Karma in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh early last year.
The lack of telecom infrastructure in the Left Wing Extremism affected areas of Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh severely compromises the position of the security forces vis-a-vis the Maoist ultras.
As far as communication infrastructure, particularly mobile networks are concerned, the security forces face significant challenges in their operations in these areas, sources said.

Sources in the security establishment added that it severely compromises the ability of paramilitary personnel to effectively function in the area.

The proposal was initiated by the then Home Minister P Chidambaram who was very keen on network and communications.
Despite the Cabinet having set a deadline, a curious merry -go-round between officials of DoT and BSNL has meant that the network that was supposed to have been set up in 12 months is now in danger of getting delayed.
Especially with the general elections now round the corner, the exercise could potentially lead to deadly delays.
Further, the DoT's division Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), which was to fund Rs 3,046.12 crore, has thrown another spanner in the works and decided to refer the project to the Telecom Commission after the state-owned BSNL gave an escalated price, which includes VAT and state taxes.