Southern States
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Karnataka
Phone lines yet to be restored on M. M. Hills
By A.V.Ragunathan
MADHESWARA HILLS, FEB. 7. The telephone lines on Madheswara Hills are yet to be restored fully. For, the device installed at the small telephone exchange here to receive signals from the satellite is reportedly under repair.
While the exchange is generating a revenue of about Rs. 30,000 bimonthly (which would be sufficient just to meet the commitment on salary and other expenses), over Rs. two lakhs is required to set right the fault. So, restoration of the service seems unviable.
Though an alternative device has been put in place, it goes wrong quite often thus disconnecting the communication line. The Sadasivam Commission, which is holding a three-day sitting here to ascertain facts on reported incidents of harassment and torture, allegedly perpetrated by the STF personnel, finds the going tough since the communication lines are always jammed.
The residents of the area resorted to a demonstration on Wednesday by placing the `dead telephones' before the exchange to express their displeasure due to the indifference of the Department of Telecommunications to their plight.
Besides, the sub-post office located at the pilgrim centre does not have even a watchman though it handles cash and parcels of considerable value. It is functioning from a rental building near the temple and it happens to be the only post office in the vicinity.
Employees of this post office have to spend anxious moments till the valuables are either deposited or delivered. Because, the air is rife with rumour that the forest brigand, Veerappan, is moving around the area.
Meanwhile, the Dasoha Bhavan, which is providing free food to the pilgrims and tourists coming to Madheswaran Temple every day, has been `ordered' to be closed for the past five days. Even three days before the Commission held its first sitting, the entire campus was `sterilised' and no `outsider' was allowed inside. The hall would be accessible only from February 9, i.e., after the sittings are over.
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