MOU inked : Himachal panchayats to have broadband

New Delhi : The Centre will soon set up an optical fibre based network for broadband connectivity to all village councils (panchayats) of Himachal Pradesh .

 A memorandum of understanding (MOU) tripartite was signed in New Delhi today by the principal secretary department of telecommunications , P C Dhiman , V Umashankar joint secretary(DOT) and A K Bhargava director BBNL in New Delhi Friday .

 “Under the agreement the central government will establish an optical fibre based network for broadband connectivity to all panchayats of Himachal for providing universal services to the rural population of the hill state ,”said Maneesh Garg director IT Himachal government .

 “The entire project will be funded by the union government and the DOT will monitor and review the implementation of the scheme ,”Garg said .

 “The state government will designate a nodal department to coordinate with BBNL for implementation of the project. ”he said .

 According to the deal the state government will not levy any charges and ensure time bound implementation of the project .

 The state government will issue blanket approval to BBNL authorising it to laying the fibre under state agencies and electric utilities in the state .