Kochi/Lakshadweep, Jun 1 (UNI) Administrator Praful Patel has stated that the enhancement of bandwidth from 1.7 gbps to 2x100 gbps has fundamentally changed the communication infrastructure in the islands of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.

This has also enabled e-education, e-medicine, e-governance, e-office, e-billing, digital banking, e- commerce, and other e-initiatives in the islands, the administrator told UNI.

To enhance the networking infrastructure, 23 out of 27 old 2G/3G towers have been upgraded to 4G. Additionally, 20 new towers with 4G signal radiation are being erected, of which 13 have already been commissioned and 7 are under construction, Praful Patel said.

On drinking water facilities, the administrator said, "None of the islands in Lakshadweep has surface freshwater sources, thus relying solely on underground water recharged during the monsoon for potable water."

However, groundwater availability is very limited, making rainwater and desalination plants the primary sources of potable water.

The administration had established 1 lakh litre capacity per day desalination plants at Kavaratti, Agatti and Minicoy in the past and has now established 1.5 lakh litre capacity plants at Kalpeni, Amini, Kadmat and Chetlat.

A plant of 1.5 lakh litre capacity at Kiltan was also expected to be completed by the end of February 2025, and that at Androth by May 2025, Patel said.

Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Government of India has allocated Rs. 268.81 crore for expanding pipelines to provide functional household tap connections across 10 inhabited islands and installing five 1.5 lakh litre per day capacity desalination plants at Agatti, Kavaratti, Andrott, Amini and Minicoy. FHTCs have been provided to all households on all islands.

UNI DS ARN