Government to set up 4,072 towers in Naxal-hit states
What's the story
Around 4,072 mobile towers will be set up by the government in 10 Naxal-affected states to improve the telecom network in such places. The decision was taken at a Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the first phase, which was completed about two years ago, 2,329 mobile towers were installed at a cost of Rs. 3,167 crore.
Additional towers
Additional towers will strengthen telecom network
The additional towers will strengthen telecom network resulting in increased mobile penetration in the Left Wing Extremism-affected areas, an official said. Of the 4,072 mobile towers, 1,054 will be installed in Jharkhand, 1,028 in Chhattisgarh, 483 in Odisha, 429 in Andhra Pradesh, 412 in Bihar, 207 in West Bengal, 179 in Uttar Pradesh, 136 in Maharashtra, 118 in Telangana, and 26 in Madhya Pradesh.
Expenses
Expenses to be borne by Universal Service Obligation Fund
The expenses are expected to be borne by the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) of the Department of Telecommunications. Besides, the fund is aimed at providing effective and powerful linkage to the hinterland thereby mainstreaming the population of rural and remote parts of the country. As of now, out of the 90 districts affected by the Maoists problem, 30 were termed as worst-hit.
Violence reduced
LWE violence shrunk significantly in the last four years
Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba said 44 districts in the country are no longer under the influence of Maoists or have a negligible presence and most of the LWE is now confined only to 30 worst-hit districts. He said the geographical spread of the LWE violence has shrunk significantly in the last four years due to a multi-pronged strategy involving security and development-related measures.