Jio plan shelved, BSNL approaches forest dept to set up towers in Gir

BHARAT SANCHAR Nigam Limited (BSNL) has approached the Gujarat forest department, seeking permission to conduct a land survey to set up telecommunication towers inside the Gir forest to provide 4G services to people living inside the protected forest area and eco-sensitive zone (ESZ).

The move by the public sector undertaking (PSU) comes around eight months after Reliance Jio Infocomm, promoted by Reliance Industries Limited, was forced to put on backburner its plan to set up 34 telecom towers inside the Gir forest, due to opposition by wildlife activists.

On August 18, Sandeep Saw-arkar, chief general manager of BSNL (Gujarat circle), wrote to UD Singh, principal chief conservator of forests and head of forest force (PCCF & HoF)