Aaronto Jimo
October 22
ZUNHEBOTO (MExN): Zunheboto is teetering on the edge of total communication blackout thanks to nature’s exigencies coupled with inefficient telecommunication services from the only communication infrastructure available in the district, the BSNL. Communications in Zunheboto Town remains cut off from the rest of Nagaland and the country owing to the recent post-Monsoon showers which damaged the telephone exchange. It has been nearly a month ever since telephone lines went completely dead. To add to the anguish, the failure of the over-hyped BSNL’s Cell One services has only made things worse. When contacted, BSNL staffers told The Morung Express that there were not enough LCC cards to pass the line and that they were still waiting for ‘the office’ to send the cards, ‘without which the exchange would remain non-functional.’
Zunheboto has no other means of communications other than surface transport which, presently, is also under threat with frequent landslides and unmanageable road conditions. With the current state of telecommunications with no outgoing or incoming facilities the situation is worsening. It is also learnt that new and improved exchange equipments have also failed. Zunheboto is presently in desperate need for immediate restoration of communication, leave alone availing better telecom-facilities. Although many citizens have lodged complaints and have posted their appeals, none or any concerned authorities have taken interest to alleviate the plight of people here.
Demands for better services and faster communication facilities have eluded the district, leave alone the overtly-hyped features promised to subscribers. When approached by the public, the exchange brought out even more problems than the public’s, with their limited supplies and no stand-by spares. BSNL’s Cellone has also failed the people with network breaking down often. So far, no measures have been taken to restore telecom services and no enquiries have been carried out by the authorities. The Chief Minister is expected here on October 28 for the Government College Silver Jubilee Celebration but the recent breakdown of communication infrastructure in the district continues to create myriad hindrances for arrangements, information and preparation.
