Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 17 March 2025
The Nicobarese tribal community of Pilpillow village on Kamorta Island has expressed frustration over the prolonged delay in the installation of a mobile tower under the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) project. Despite the allocation of land and multiple site visits by officials, no concrete progress has been made, leaving the village without reliable mobile connectivity.
In a recent letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr. Tanveer Hussain, the First Captain of Pilpillow village, highlighted the community’s struggle with the absence of mobile network services. The letter stated that the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had entrusted the project to Reliance Jio as part of an initiative to provide 4G mobile connectivity to uncovered villages and national highways in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Hussain mentioned that a team from Reliance Jio had conducted a site survey several years ago, followed by a visit from officials of the Department of Telecommunications, Forest, and Revenue Departments for land allocation. In 2023, the local administration had formally allocated the land for the tower’s construction. However, despite these developments, the work has remained stagnant.
The letter states that despite site surveys, soil investigations, and even a recent survey by the Assistant Engineer of the electricity department for power supply, no work has started. Hussain expressed disappointment that Reliance Jio officials have continued to give false hope regarding the project’s progress.
According to the letter, the Department of Telecommunications has repeatedly cited a “media issue” as the reason for the delay. Hussain questioned why land was allocated and surveys were conducted if there were unresolved media-related concerns, stating that the delay has resulted in the wastage of government funds.
The residents of Pilpillow village continue to struggle with communication challenges due to the lack of mobile connectivity. The absence of a mobile network affects emergency services, education, and economic opportunities, leaving the community isolated from the rest of the region.
Through his letter, Hussain has urged Prime Minister Modi to intervene and ensure that the promised mobile tower is installed at the earliest. The community now awaits a response from the authorities, hoping for swift action to resolve their long-standing grievance.