हिंदी
Leh, 17 January 2025
The Advisor and Chairman of the State Broadband Committee, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, chaired the 6th Ladakh Broadband Committee meeting to review the implementation plan of the National Broadband Mission.
During the meeting, the Advisor was briefed on various agenda items, including a review of the 5th SBC meeting minutes and decisions, Right of Way (RoW) clearance, expedited issuance of permissions for tower erection and laying of Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) on the RoW portal, the 4G Saturation Project being executed by BSNL, forest land acquisition/allocation for the USOF 4G Saturation Project, provision of electricity connections, the 5G implementation plan, mapping of street furniture, the Call Before You Dig (CBuD) App, user creation for all state agencies and registered departments, user creation up to the Tehsil level by all departments/agencies, quarterly District Level Telecom Committee (DLTC) meetings to review the CBuD App usage, the Digital Communication Readiness Index, quarterly review meetings, EB connectivity, and renewable energy through Green Energy Open Access.
The meeting also considered an advisory by the Ministry of Power (MoP) on implementing a Composite Billing Scheme for multiple connections like telecom service providers, advisory on common duct, the amended Bharat Net Program (ABP), and MoHUA building by-laws.
Advisor Kotwal emphasized that the telecom network is the backbone supporting other sectors and highlighted the critical issue of providing telecom connectivity to villages in Ladakh. He urged telecom operators to prioritize internet connectivity in unreached areas, especially for the benefit of students in remote locations.
The Advisor directed the implementing agencies to expedite the project and urged them to blacklist contractors who are not progressing as expected. He also instructed BSNL authorities to continue the work of instrumentation of already erected towers during the winter session.
For the 5G implementation plan, the Advisor asked the concerned departments to identify street furniture mapping on the Gati Shakti portal and utilize other departmental assets to aid in 5G proliferation. He instructed the Secretary of Public Works Department (PWD) to implement the CBuD App across the department and conduct workshops on its usage. Additionally, the Secretary of Power Development Department (PDD) was directed to initiate the composite billing system. Dr. Kotwal assured BSNL of all necessary logistical and financial support to ensure timely tower installations.
The meeting was attended by the Administrative Secretary of Housing & Urban Development, Ladakh; Administrative Secretary of Forest, Ecology & Environment, Ladakh; Administrative Secretary of IT Department, Ladakh; Administrative Secretary of PW(R&B); Administrative Secretary of PDD, Ladakh; Addl. DGT, J&K LSA, DoT; CGM, BSNL, J&K Telecom Circle; representatives from DIPA and COAI; Administrative Secretary of PDD, Ladakh UT; Director of Rural Development, Ladakh; General Manager, BSNL, Leh; and Deputy Commissioners of Leh and Kargil.
