Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: With elections just around the corner, the State may see another massive agitation across State, this time against the Mobile Towers.
The Public Works Department has approved the installation of 34 new mobile towers in the State.
Last week, Goa witnessed a protest in Colva wherein the locals opposed the installation of a mobile tower.
The local panchayat members too opposed the move saying the panchayat was not taken into consideration.
However, despite the Opposition, the government went ahead with the installation under police protection.
Sources say that with the PWD approving 34 new towers, the majority being in South Goa, this election could be a major issue.
“The aspiring candidates could use the situation to their advantage and instigate people,” said a government source.
Teachers, however, feel the tower policy was much required considering the online classes and rural students missing classes.
“No matter what, the government has to go ahead with the Tower installation. It’s a bold move by the government and they should not bow down now,” a teacher said on condition of anonymity.
Goa Telecom Infrastructure Policy 2020
This policy aims to fulfil people’s expectations of fast and reliable internet connection anywhere and anytime. The
demand for internet connectivity, through mobile or broadband connectivity, has exploded. An increasing number of people are connecting to the internet and trying to avail of every expanding universe of online services, such as social media, online and mobile banking, G2C services, Video-on-demand, etc.
Goa has the highest per capita income in India, as compared to any State/UT. Ten years ago, Goa was pioneering in expanding broadband connectivity up to the village level through GBBN.
With time, the State needs to evolve its policy to facilitate the creation of the telecom infrastructure comparable to the best in the world, to attract the talent and technology required to support an advanced economy.
Following complaints from students living in remote villages about lack of adequate connectivity hampering their online school and college classes, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced fresh incentives for telecom companies to set up towers and related infrastructure in Goa’s hinterland that is dotted by blindspots.
According to fresh amendments to the Goa Telecom Infrastructure Policy 2020, which were c
leared by the state cabinet on Wednesday, companies setting up towers in rural areas will only have to pay 10 per cent of the monthly rent for five years and 25 per cent of the rentals after the first five year period.
Currently, mobile companies have to shell out Rs 50,000 per month to set up mobile telephony towers on government property.
“Those who want to install towers in rural areas this year, will only have to pay 10 per cent of the rent for the first five years. No one is willing to set up towers in remote villages right now. The government has fixed rent at only 10 per cent for the first five years. After that, it will be 25 per cent,” Sawant said.
Currently, 144 applications for setting up mobile towers are pending before the state government.
The state government came up with the Goa Telecom Infrastructure Policy 2020, amid local residents’ Opposition over setting up mobile towers in the State. The policy facilitates prompt processing of applications for setting up mobile towers on government property.
Ever since the pandemic forced schools and other educational institutions to switch to online mode, students of several schools living in rural areas had complained about poor connectivity issues, which forced them to walk several miles to the nearest spot where range was adequate.
