Kolkata, Feb 5 (Inditop.com) State-owned telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) faced a revenue loss of Rs.4 crore till December in the Darjeeling hills due to the ongoing agitation for a separate state, a senior company official said.
“We are facing serious problem in Darjeeling hills as several subscribers have declined to pay bills. Agitators have also closed BSNL counters,” Calcutta Telephones chief general manager V.K. Garg told reporters here.
“The agitation has already taken a toll on revenue collection as the cumulative loss till December 2009 has touched Rs.4 crore,” Garg said while launching BSNL’s 3G additional video services.
Led by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), protesters are demanding a separate Gorkhaland state comprising the hills and parts of the plains.
Referring to the over 15,000 fixed landline subscribers in the Darjeeling hills, Garg said: “It will be impossible for us to provide services to these customers without being paid for an indefinite period.”
Added a BSNL official: “We opened our counters almost five months back in Darjeeling but had to close operations again following GJM protests in the region.”
