DoT ensures to provide 24/7 telecom connectivity at areas to be affected by cyclone Nisarga

As the Department of Telecommunications recovers from the impact of cyclone Amphan that lashed parts of coastal West Bengal, and Odisha a few weeks back, it is now taking steps to brace for Cyclone Nisarga. 

Tropical storm "Nisarga", which is headed towards the coasts in Maharashtra, Mumbai, and Gujarat, is likely to intensify into a cyclone in the next 12 hours and is expected to make landfall close to Mumbai on June 3rd.

This would be the first cyclonic storm to impact India's financial capital, which has logged over 41,000 coronavirus cases so far, since 1882.

A storm surge - as high as two metres above the astronomical tide - will inundate the low-lying coastal areas of Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad districts during the landfall. It is expected that the storm may cause major damage to thatched houses, huts, power and communication lines, and coastal crops.

In order to ensure telecom connectivity in Maharashtra, Mumbai, and Gujarat, the Department of Telecommunications held a meeting with all the Telecom Service Providers, Infrastructure Providers (IP), LSA’s, Tower & Infrastructure Providers Association (TAIPA) and COAI.

T. R. Dua, Director-General, Tower & Infrastructure Providers Association has said that all IP members have taken necessary steps to ensure connectivity 24/7 in the areas which are likely to be affected by the cyclone and all the background arrangements like additional DG sets, battery banks, spare parts, stocking of diesel are taken care off. He has also said that the infrastructure providers have also deployed additional rescue teams, which are kept on standby mode for all major districts like to get impacted during Nisarga.

"We have requested the Chief Secretaries and DoT for unrestricted movement for man and material for inter-state movement, the arrangement of issuing E-passes and availability of diesel supply, assured Dua. 

Dua further said, "In the meeting, the issue of the Gujarat state needs to notify a tower policy that is aligned with Right of Way (RoW) rules was also stressed upon to ensure seamless network connectivity and hindering the rollout of essential critical telecom infrastructure across the state."