The Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) in Sikkim has disconnected 8,000 telephone lines-nearly one-fourth of the total subscribers in the state capital-in the last one and half months for non-payment of bills, a senior official has said.
"Since February we have disconnected 8,000 telephone lines including nearly 2,000 of the government. Another 4,000 are in the pipeline (for disconnection)," General Manager, Telecom, in Sikkim M K Seth told reporters in Gangtok on Friday.
He said that BSNL was incurring a loss of Rs 2 crore per month for non-realisation of revenue in the state, which was impeding in getting new equipment for Sikkim.
Very recently, Seth said, that BSNL took up this matter with the state's principal finance secretary, who was believed to have issued a circular to the heads of government departments for payment of telephone and electricity bills.
Seth said that government invested Rs 250 crore in the state during the past three years for telecom infrastructure development. Non-realisation of telephone bills has been a big hindrance in getting the return. Bureau Report