Gracy Tripathy,Rahul Singh & Sarthak Kanjilall
Teressa, November 25: After the mobile network disappeared from Teressa Island on the 03rd November 2020, following some technical faults, it had forced the residents of the Island to travel 22 kilometers, trek a hill for getting, some feeble network of Katchal Island to connect with their relatives, friends and others.
Even after complaints BSNL has failed to rectify the faults.
The residents allege that all this year, there was almost no mobile connectivity in the Island.
“This is because, there is no BSNL employee posted in the Island, if there is any fault, the BSNL employees come from Kamorta to rectify the faults, sadly which didn’t happen this time, for reasons, unknown” said a government servant posted in the Island on the condition of anonymity.
“I am unable to connect to my daughter who is studying in Chennai, she struggles to contact me during need especially when she needs money,” said the government servant.
The residents of the Island demand immediate rectification of the faults or else they are now planning to hit the road, sources informed Andaman Sheekha.
When questioned the Chief General Manger of A & N BSNL Circle, Mr. Murali Krishnan today told Andaman Sheekha that the problem is with Satellite antenna and experts have to come from mainland to repair.
“Some failures happen suddenly, we don’t have spare parts and sufficient resources. Everything cost money and it is not so easy to keep backup. We are trying to arrange manpower and also there are transportation issues. Ships are going only once in a month. We are trying to send people by next ship,” said the CGM.
When asked why no BSNL staff has been posted in the Teressa Island, he said that the reason is shortage of funds. “We don’t have enough people. We are not having enough money to pay salaries,” he added.
