"Lift mobile net ban, ensure regular power"
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang
Ukhrul, September 02 2023:
Against the backdrop of prolonged mobile internet clampdown taking its toll on the day-to-day livelihood of the people in Ukhrul district, Tangkhul Naga Wungnao Long (TNWL) has urged the state government to restore the basic internet facility in the district at the earliest.
Addressing media persons at his office chambers in Ukhrul town on Saturday, TNWL president SA Ramnganing said that the continued mobile internet ban imposed by the state government due to the ongoing unrest situation in parts of the state, has put an immense strain on the people of Ukhrul district.
While appealing for restoration of mobile internet in the district at the earliest, Ramnganing requested the government to consider Ukhrul district headquarters as a priority case.
He said that Ukhrul town being a place where all forms of major livelihood activities of the people take place, internet shutdown here has made life miserable for everyone including students, businessmen and other working professionals who couldn't execute their internet-based works.
"Many people have left their hometown for neighbouring states in search of internet connectivity, while those staying back face immeasurable hardships," he said.
Ramnganing also pointed out that the internet ban has given rise to some sort commercialisation of the basic facility with some private WiFi service providers emerging on the scene to operate their businesses on payment basis here.
The chief of the apex Tangkhul headmen's association further questioned the government's rationale for imposing internet clampdown in peaceful districts like Ukhrul.
"While we understand internet ban in places affected by the ongoing communal conflicts, we want to ask the government about the motive behind the blanket ban on the internet,'' he rued.
At the same time, the TNWL president urged the state government to ensure uninterrupted power supply in the district.
He lamented that in the midst of the deprivation of the internet, frequent power blackouts in Ukhrul town which has been continuing since June this year, has added to the untold miseries of the public.
Taking serious note of this, Ramnganing drew attention of the authorities concerned towards immediate measures to rectify the faults in the distribution system and create a dedicated 33 KV line for Ukhrul town on a war footing so as to ease the public hardships.
He said that of the existing two 33 KV lines currently fed by the Hundung Cement Factory sub-station, Ukhrul Town 33 KV Sub-Station should be made a dedicated line by way of creating a separate connection for the rest of the power sub-stations, namely Tolloi 33 sub-station, Nungbi 33 KV Sub-Station, Namrei 33 KV Sub-Station, and Jessami 33 KV Sub-Station.
It may be mentioned that the power department had detected faulty distribution system as the underlying cause of frequent power disruptions in Ukhrul town during its preliminary survey conducted earlier this year.