Ten digital satellite phone terminals were installed in Maoist-hit districts of poll-bound Chhattisgarh to provide better communication facilities to the security forces. DoT officials said the department had set up 50 digital satellite phone terminals (DSPTs) in recent months in the naxal affected areas to improve the communication network.
However, 10 additional DSPTs were installed for the election purpose, they added.
The Home Ministry had asked the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to provide 15 truck mounted base tower stations (BTS) to Chhattisgarh for the elections stating that uninterrupted communication network was important for smooth conduct of elections.
The Home Ministry said that since work for installation of mobile towers in naxal-affected areas was yet to commence, the DoT should make available truck mounted BTS to the security forces to ensure smooth communication and better coordination.
The DoT, however, did not provide truck mounted BTS but instead installed an additional 10 DSPTs in the areas, the sources said.
The Cabinet in June had cleared the three-year old proposal to set up mobile towers at 2,199 locations at cost of around Rs 3,046 crore in nine states, in the wake of a naxal attack that led to killing of 27 people, including senior Congress leaders, in Chattisgarh in May this year. BSNL was mandated to set up the towers, the cost of which will be borne by the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).
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