SHILLONG: Tura MP Purno A Sangma has called for the need to improve cellular connectivity in the State and the Northeast as a whole. Sangma pointed out that people of his constituency were now asking for mobile towers instead of developmental schemes like roads and other infrastructures thus underlining the need for improvement in this sector.
“In the past, I used to receive memorandums for development of roads and construction of school buildings. However, the mindset of the people is changing. People are now asking for mobile towers instead of developmental schemes,” Sangma said while speaking at an event organised to present the Sanchar Seva Padak Award 2015 here on Monday.
The NPP supremo also informed that loads of applications of people requesting installation of mobile towers in their areas are pending with him.
“I may not be able to come back as MP in the next election if I cannot fulfill these pending demands for installation of mobile towers of the people. Only BSNL can help the people by providing them with mobile towers so that I can be re-elected as an MP,” he said on a lighter note.
“Connectivity is important especially in a region like the Northeast,” Sangma added.
“A region like the Northeast which shares borders with foreign countries needs to be looked at differently when it comes to connectivity,” he said.
The MP pointed out that due to problems of connectivity, people of the State living along international borders are using Bangladesh mobile network. He, however, congratulated the government for its efforts towards improving connectivity in the NE region and said, “The government and the BSNL have sanctioned up to Rs 5300 crores for expanding the network connectivity in the region.” Earlier, around 26 employees of the BSNL were honoured on the occasion.
