MHA not keen to lift ban on WLL

DIMAPUR, June 27 ? Although the Centre is keen on lifting the restriction imposed on the installation of the WLL facility extended to all the north-eastern states including Nagaland, the dream of linking every village with telephone connections by the end of the current year may take time as the MHA seems to be quite reluctant to revoke the ban citing security as the reason. During their three-day visit of the state capital last week the 12-member study team of the Parliamentary standing committee on information technology, led by the lone Lok Sabha member from the state, K Asungba Sangtam, who in also the convenor of the committee widely interacted with the representatives of various non-governmental organizations and public to acquaint themselves with the grievances of the people to improve the functioning of various departments such as AIR, Doordarshan, Postal Department, Telecommunication etc. Asungba Sangtam while talking to the media said, ?The infrastructure for the WLL facility have already been set up in Nagaland and we are only waiting for reply from the Centre for installation of the facility in the state.? He, however, maintained that at present due to the security reasons the Home Ministry has imposed restriction on installation of WLL in Nagaland and four other north-eastern states. But the case is under consideration of the Union HomeMinistry, the MP informed. ?Once WLL comes to the state, the villagers will be greatly benefited,? he said adding the WLL is part of the nation?s telephone policy where the entire villages in the country will be provided with telephone facility. ?WLL has already been allowed in three north eastern states of Arunachal Pradesh (excluding the insurgency infested Changlang and Tirap districts), Mizoram and Sikkim? the MP said while informing that the Union Home Minister has been urged to consider allowing extending the facility to all the north-eastern states. If the WLL was successful and not misused by the people, the proposal for providing cellular facility to the state will be taken up soon. He also informed that the Ministry is making all efforts to make Internet more viable and accessible, even up to the rural areas. Meanwhile, the delegation made a spot study on the problems being faced by the All India Radio and Doordarshan. The media was barred from attending the meetings held at Hotel Japfu, stating Parliament directives. It may be recalled here that in 1999 when the same committee visited Kohima, the suggestions and grievances were heard as a result, the post of the chief general manager, North East telecom circle-II was created at Dimapur for the three states of Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. The team, included-- ten Lok Sabha and two Rajya Sabha members.