East Khasi Hills DC threatens to take action against BSNL under ESMA
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Annoyed with poor Cell phone service specially during the festive season, the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner J Lyngdoh has written a letter to its General Manager (GM), Telecom in Shillong, to set things right or face the music.
The Deputy Commissioner threatened to take action against BSNL under Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).
Lyngdoh in his letter asked the BSNL staff to improve connectivity during the festive season.
Lyngdoh on Saturday said he wanted to communicate to the BSNL officials to ensure that there was no disruption in the cell phone service this festive season “because this is the time when people use cell phones to exchange greetings and also to send text messages.”
“The telephone service has now become an essential service and I can take action against BSNL under ESMA if they don’t provide uninterrupted service in the city,” Lyngdoh said.
According to him, “these days it is difficult to talk on BSNL cell phone even for the duration of a minute without interruption and this has become an irritant.”
“I have also received several complaints from the customers about the poor service being provided by the state owned cell phone service provider”, he added.
Lyngdoh said he wanted the BSNL men to be vigil during the festive season.
A senior BSNL official admitted that he received the letter from the Deputy Commissioner and said efforts will be made to ensure better service.
“There are multiple factors which led to the breakdown of service and one of them is the damage to the optical fiber due to the road widening work being carried out on Guwhati-Shillong road,” he said.
“Our men are ready for round-the-clock maintenance and we will ensure that there is no disruption to phone connectivity as well as interruption to the internet”, he said.
“We will have to put more towers in parts of Shillong especially in Nongthymmai area to ensure better service,” the official said adding that the private cell phone providers have more towers in the city than the BSNL.