Telecom and Internet services became normal late this evening after power supply to the BSNL’s Kalimpong office was restored.
Telecom officials have assured the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited that dues of around Rs 24 lakh including Rs 8 lakh as late payment surcharge, would be cleared in the next two days.
“We decided to restore the power supply after the BSNL officials assured us that the outstanding amount will be cleared by tomorrow or day after,” A. K. Sinha, the zonal manager of WBSEDCL, Siliguri zone, said.
The BSNL officials, however, could not say why the dues were not cleared and for how many months were they pending.
“We had written to the WBSEDCL officials requesting them to waive off the surcharge of Rs 8 lakh but we did not get any response from them” said S. Roy, the subdivisional officer of BSNL, Kalimpong.
According to Sinha BSNL’s request will be forwarded to the higher authorities of the power department. “My office does not have the authority to take decision on the waiver of surcharge,” he said.
The BSNL has around 4,000 users in the Kalimpong subdivision who had to face a lot of inconveniences because of the disruption.
“The broadband disruption meant I had to close my cyber café for almost two days. Is the BSNL going to compensate for the loss of my business?” asked Yakub Tamang who operates an Internet parlour on Main Road here.
According to the broadband users, BSNL’s Internet connectivity is frequently disrupted in the area for one reason or the other.
“Snapping of optical fibre cables either because of theft or landslides is given as reason for the frequent disruption. That is still believable. But how can BSNL explain the disruption caused because of the negligence or callousness on the part of its officials. They should know that power supply would be cut off if the bills are not paid on time,” said N. Biswa, a BSNL broadband subscriber.
TT
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