Kathmandu, June 28: Minister for Information and Communications Jayaprakash Prasad Gupta said that the first phase activities under the Special Rural Telecommunications Programme are already underway.

The programme has been launched with the objective of providing telephone services based on VSAT or wireless local loophole technology to all VDCs of the country by fiscal year 2059/60, he said.

Replying to questions raised by various MPs during question hour at the House of Representatives today, Minister Gupta said the government has a plan to provide telephone service to Bahun, Tilpung, Ratnabati, Swalpa, Khangsang, Lampantar and Ambote VDCs of Sindhuli district in the fiscal year 2058/59.

However, there is no programme for expanding telephone services at Mainapokhari of Dolkha district, he added.

Mr Gupta informed the House that telephone service is to be provided to Raniban, Gandabaj, Khairigaira, Lalikanda, Lankuri, Barahtal Pokhari, Setipat, Kalla and Kasikadh VDC in Dailekh district under fiscal year 2058/59.

Nepal Television will be hooked up to Satellite during the current fiscal year, he said, adding transmission centres for that purpose will be constructed in four phases.

Those posing questions to Minister Gupta were Ganga Prasad Nepal, Pashupati Chaulagain, Bhadra Bahadur Thapa, Ratna Prasad Neupane, Pradip Kumar Gyawali of CPN-UML and Shiva Raj Joshi of NC.