काठमाडौं ।
The Internet Service Providers’ Association of Nepal (ISPAN) has sought an additional 15 days for last chance after failing to manage the tangled overhead utility wires and cables in the Kathmandu Valley.
The internet, telephone and cable wires that have been tangled, hung and unused on utility poles for years are eyesore in the capital.
At a meeting of concerned agencies today at the Ministry of Information and Communications, ISPAN demanded additional time to complete the task.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Nepal Telecommunications Authority, Nepal Telecom, ISPAN, and other related agencies.
At the meeting, Information and Communications Minister Dr. Bikram Timilsina suggested ways to complete the work within the set time frame, addressing the progress of tangled wire management, problems encountered during implementation, and their solutions.
He reiterated government’s readiness to solve real problems and instructed the stakeholders to work in a way that shows results. “The government will bring wire management to a conclusion. It may take some time to get the work done, but we cannot extend the deadline furthermore.”
Minister Timilsina also urged ISPAN to provide timely information on the issues observed in the work and needed support from government to resolve the issues.
He clarified that tangled wire management is the legal and professional responsibility of service providers.
For a long-term solution, he also gave directions to study the possibility of a single infrastructure being shared by different service providers. Communications Minister Timilsina expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of both service providers and the regulator, pointing out that failure to complete work on time is the fault of both ISPAN and the Nepal Telecommunications Authority.
The government will help solve problems, but it will not accept a work-shirking attitude, the minister clarified.
“ISPAN has again asked for 15 more days. They had previously committed to complete the work by 15th Shrawan (July 31). Now a reliable basis is needed to ensure the work is completed within the requested time.”
Similarly, Chief Executive Officer of ISPAN, Subas Khadka, shared that out of six areas determined under the first-phase in the Kathmandu Valley, around 58 per cent works have been completed so far.
He added that activities are underway for wire management in other places of the country including Kathmandu Valley, expressing the view that establishment of a separate infrastructure company is needed for long-term solution to this problem.
The ISPAN had raised the issue that the Nepal Electricity Authority had not constructed adequate infrastructures for the management of internet and cable service while undergrounding electricity lines.
It also shared that preparation was underway to recruit additional human resources, mentioning that service provider itself has been expanding underground internet wire as the pilot project in Kalanki-Thankot, Chabahil-Bouddha as well as other areas.
During the high-level inter agency meeting held on July 15 in presence of Minister for Information and Communications, Dr Bikram Timilsina, and Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, the ISPAN had made commitment to complete management of unmanaged wires at six areas of Kathmandu Valley under the first-phase within July 31.
Under the first-phase, a target had been set to manage unmanaged wires at six areas– Tripureshwor-Kalimati-Kalanki, Jadibuti-Pepsicola, Tripureshwor-Lazimpat, Samakhusi-Town Planning-Gonggabu, Kirtipur area and Old Baneshwor-Gaushala-Chabahil. RSS
प्रकाशित: १५ श्रावण २०८३, शुक्रबार
