DoT blames "Sukh Ram wire" for phone network disruption

AHMEDABAD, May 3: While investigations into the multi-crore telecom scandal involving former Union Minister Sukh Ram still continue, the wires purchased by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under his tenure are blocking communication networks in various districts of Gujarat.

Within a month of its installation by the Gujarat Telecom Circle under its massive expansion programme last September, complaints ranging from interruptions, cross connections and dead phones started coming in from consumers all over the state. All the 17 telecom districts under the Gujarat Telecom Circle had such complaints.

Telecom authorities in the state blame the overhead “drop” wire purchased when Sukh Ram was minister. Ironically, linemen now refer to it as the “Sukh Ram wire”. The chief general manager of Gujarat Telecom Circle, R.Sundara Rajan, admitted that the “Sukh Ram wire” was the cause of the problem. “The wire was purchased in September 1996. We have received a large number of complaints because the wires were of poor quality. The specifications were wrong and the insulation was very thin,” he said. DoT generally purchases the overhead wire on the directions of the Ministry of Telecommunication. It is then supplied to them from its stores in Calcutta.