Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs
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The Department of Telecom has instructed State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) and Bharat Broadband Network Ltd. (BBNL) to submit reports every day on the progress made in the Bharat Net project that seeks to connect 2.5 lakh gram panchayats in the country through high-speed broadband by March 2019. “Despite fortnightly/weekly reviews for the last two years at my level, it is observed that there is an unprofessional shirking of responsibility; along with inability to resolve on-field problems and inter organisational issues between BBNL and BSNL,” Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said in a letter. Hampering progress “This is not only hampering progress of this vital project but is now threatening to derail even earlier achievement of the past four years,” she added. As of October 2018, 1.15 lakh gram panchayats were service-ready. However, extensive field reports have been received regarding non-functioning at 80-90% of the gram panchayats as well as massive under utilisation/non utilisation of Bharat Net infrastructure. “Though clear utilisation targets have already been set, the actual utilisation on ground is understood to be less than 10% of the target,” she said. To ensure this did not continue, she instructed that a progress report jointly signed by the CMDs of the two firms be submitted to her office everyday, beginning November 5.
