IT mantri announces ‘Har Ghar Fibre’ by 2027

Porvorim: Stating that Goa will have ‘Har Ghar Fibre’ by 2027, IT minister Rohan Khaunte on Tuesday said that the rollout will begin in Sanquelim, Porvorim and Bicholim. He informed the assembly that the department has received Rs 50 crore as capital assistance for the pilot project in the three constituencies.

“The remaining rural connectivity will be taken up in the second part of the tender, which will come in very soon,” said Khaunte.

He admitted that telecom connectivity in rural parts of Goa is poor because of which citizens struggle. He said that under Centre’s BharatNet programme, work to create a new fibre network across the state has been tendered and the contractor has been selected. Khaunte said the contractor is expected to give Goan officials a presentation on implementation.

Meanwhile, the department has facilitated the installation of 4G towers at 24 locations including in Bicholim, Sattari and Sanguem. Khaunte said a skill development centre will be started at the Tuem ESDM park to upskill youth from Pernem and nearby talukas for jobs there. He also spoke about plans to establish a Global Capability Center park in Goa, to attract multinational companies, but provided no details.

Speaking earlier, opposition leader Yuri Alemao said Goa needs an IT advisory council comprising industry experts who can provide policy suggestions and a roadmap for the sector.

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CAG officers on witch hunt: Minister

Porvorim: On the back foot after a series of adverse observations by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), IT minister Rohan Khaunte accused CAG officers of going on a witch hunt. Khaunte said correspondence between the CAG and the IT department was being leaked to the opposition in order to malign the department. “The office of the CAG is being misused. I have spoken to the chief minister about this and in a few days, things will become clearer. My charge is on certain officers of the CAG,” said Khaunte.

GFP MLA Vijai Sardesai, however, reminded Khaunte that the NDA had won the 2014 elections largely because of the CAG’s scathing observations about the then Congress-led UPA govt in Delhi. TNN