PANAJI: To encourage private players to install cellular towers in rural areas and provide quality internet facilities, the state government on Wednesday decided to reduce the lease of a cell tower from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5,000 per month for a period of five years in government property.
Chairman of the Minister of Pramod Sawant said that 141 permits were sought to install Mobile Towers on government land in rural areas.
The decision was taken after being taken to the state government notices that students who currently attend online classes face difficulties because of poor network facilities in Talukas countryside.
Speaking to MediaPereka, the ministerial chief said that the company could install a cellular towers in rural areas and only paid 10% of the rental approved by the government.
He also said that no one came to install towers in rural areas.
Sawant said that after five years, rent would be 25% of the leases set by the state government.
He also said that before, rent was not affordable for cellular companies because of the lack of adequate business.
He also said that when the media reported about poor network connectivity, it also had to highlight how the public opposed their cellphone towers.
“We publish news about poor connectivity, but we do not publish news about people who oppose the installation of mobile tower.
We must highlight the news like that so that countries are aware of the opposition to the cell tower,” he said.
“I have received around 70 complaints of towers that are opposed by people,” Sawant said.
He also said that the government would focus on the installation of towers in rural areas such as Canacona and Sattari.