BSNL Remains Trapped In Flood Waters

• People Charged for No Service In September 

• Erratic Mobile Services, Faulty Broadband Irk Subscribers

SRINAGAR:  Even after the chief minister Omar Abdullah publically ridiculed BSNL for failing subscribers thus bringing bad name to India, the cellular provider continues to take subscribers in Kashmir Valley for a ride.

People in various areas are up in arms against the poor services being provided to them by BSNL- complaining that network congestion and repeated call drops are adding to their woes.

The scenes at Srinagar’s BSNL office on Monday were turbulent as well with the subscribers accusing that their numbers were blocked due to the bill payments despite the state Governor declaring that people won’t be charged for the month of September as the services were badly hit for most part of the month.  

The BSNL post paid users whose numbers were blocked without any prior intimation said that they were charged for the September month with the text messages flashed to thir mobile phones asking for payments on time to avoid disconnection of services. 

Certain subscribers even accused BSNL of inflated bills for the month of September when the service remained shut.

“My usual bill  never crosses Rs 400 but for the September when my pone remained unused barring few odd calls I was charged Rs 1300” said Haider Shah of Eidgah with number 9419004782.

Subscribers said that when they complained before the BSNL authorities over the issue, the reply was saddening and ‘shameful’. “They (BSNL officials) told us that until September bills are not paid, the services would not be restored. Unless they receive a written order for any waiver for the September bills, nothing could be done,” said one of the BSNL user- waiting in queue to pay his bill.

People from various areas alleged that the BSNL authorities have indulged in the ‘autocratic policies’ wherein quality services to the subscribers are not being taken into the account. They said that besides mobile services, the landlines in scores of areas are yet to be restored with broadband services badly hit.

The commercial hub of the capital, Lal Chowk-Residency Road too remains without broadband facility even after passage of a month since floods hit the area.

Interestingly, the chief minister Omar Abdullah said last week that his official BSNL  number  is still out of service and in secretariat, only two landline connections are working. 

Taking a strong exception to the dismal performance exhibited by BSNL, particularly during the devastating floods, chief minister Omar Abdullah observed that BSNL has maligned the image and prestige of central government in the state.

Taking a dig at snail’s pace measures taken by BSNL in restoration of the lost connectivity, Omar said that had the state government undertaken the restoration measures like that of the BSNL, the state would have been still submerged in water. “This is the only major central office representing the central government in state and its dismal performance during the floods has put a question mark on its mandate,” he said.

The chief minister claimed further that his own official BSNL number might be still out of order, making him to ask for phone from his subordinates to make a phone call. “Even in secretariat the phones are not working. I have to either remain present in civil secretariat or at Hari Niwas so that to remain connected.”

Pertinently, when the devastating floods created havoc and the mobile telecommunications was the most needed service to inquire about the whereabouts of near and dear ones, most of the operators especially the state owned BSNL remained completely out of gear, adding to the miseries of helpless people. Even near a month has passed since theses floods ravaged the state, BSNL is still performing at a snail’s pace with its landline, broadband and cell phone networks remaining abysmally disturbed.  (KNS)

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