To take appraisal of people grievances with regard to the unsatisfactory landline and mobile services of BSNL, Tenzin Sonam, EC Zanskar Affairs, H.K Verma, Chief General Manager J&K Circle BSNL and Punchok Dorjay, General Manager BSNL, Ladakh Region on January 7 visited Padum.

Public delegations presented their concerns and demands pertaining to the substandard telecom network of BSNL in the Sub Division. A memorandum was also presented by the people.

Interacting with the public delegations, Tenzin Sonam, EC Zanskar Affairs said that Hill Council Kargil is making all-out efforts to improve the living standard of people living in far-flung and snowbound areas of the district. A number of steps are afoot to ensure that they get facilities at their footsteps.

 

Tenzin Sonam said that solar power plants shall be installed in the area during the coming summer season so as to cope up with the power problems at Telephone Exchange Padum. Also, solar plants have also been proposed for round the clock operation of mobile towers in the area.

 

The services of BSNL in Zanskar Sub Division have not improved despite the deployment of a technical team of BSNL to the area a week ago. Tenzin Sonam while expressing concern over the erratic telecommunication facilities in the area exhorted upon the BSNL officers for early commissioning of the two mobile towers which were erected in 2012 but have not been made functional.

H.K Verma, Chief General Manager J&K Circle BSNL assured that the two mobile towers already installed at Manda and Shilingskit shall be activated in due course of time, while as a proposal for the launching of 3G services at Padum is also in the pipeline. 

The EC along with the officers of BSNL also visited Telephone Exchange Padum and inquired about the facilities there. 

H.K Verma informed that effort is being made to raise the capacity of the Telephone Exchange besides improving the services to a satisfactory level.