India improves telecom in Maoist-hit areas

NEW DELHI, May 29 (UPI) -- India's Interior Ministry said Thursday it would complete work by March 2009 on a telecommunication line for all 33 districts affected by Maoist violence.

In a meeting convened by Minister of Home Affairs Shivraj Patil and attended by secretaries of various developmental ministries the difficulties of finding secure places to put up mobile communication towers were discussed.

The ministry has offered central paramilitary forces stationed in these districts the use of ministry of telecommunications buildings as well as police stations to ensure the setting up of such towers.

An official from the Ministry of Home Affairs reported the Telecommunications Ministry said installation of a village committee telephone in approximately 44,000 villages in Maoist-affected districts is expected to be completed by the end of 2008.

Better communications would help security forces in counterinsurgency operations, the ministry official said.