Ranchi, June 26: The state’s ambitious e-governance project is under threat of being stalled due to a payment dispute with the Bangalore-based company implementing it.

United Telecoms Limited (UTL) has threatened to stop all work on the Jharkhand State Wide Area Network (JHARNET) service if the state did not clear a major part of the Rs 99 cr promised to it for setting up the infrastructure for the project.

JHARNET promises to offer various citizen-friendly services at the click of a mouse — like on-line land registration, treasury services, registration, commercial taxes etc in district headquarters, sub-divisions, blocks while networking the state with the capital’s administrative blocks of Nepal House and Project Building, among others.

UTL officials claim they have completed work to provide voice, video and data services where necessary infrastructure — like BSNL lines and electricity — has been provided. But they are unable to provide services in areas where basic infrastructure is lacking.

“As of now Jharnet services is effective in 178 blocks out of total 212. Although, connections have been provided in 202 blocks, we are unable to provide all the services due to the want of proper BSNL connectivity and power back-up,” said L V Narasimhan, director in-charge of UTL.

In the remaining 10 blocks, necessary equipment was lying with concerned districts offices for want of space.

“As per the terms and conditions of the agreement it is the duty of government to provide us with BSNL connectivity, power connection and space,” he said, adding the state government was withholding payment even though UTL had already invested about Rs 80 crore.

Moreover, the government was yet to give hand over a partial acceptance test (PAT) certificate that would enable UTL to submit it to financial institutions.

Sumant Sinha, officer-on-special-duty, Jharnet, conceded the company was yet to be given a PAT certificate.

“They are yet to complete the entire work. Power problem is their issue. As for BSNL connectivity, we may look into it,” he said.

The crux of the problem is centred around the absence of BSNL lines in over 30 blocks and the Jharkhand State Electricity Board’s (JSEB) failure to provide dependable and quality power.

Sensing a possible problem, the state government had entered into an agreement with three private telecom operators — Tata Indicom, Reliance and Airtel — for laying optic fibre cables.

But the three only provided 14 connections, that too in district headquarters and the state capital.

UTL has undertaken e-governance infrastructure projects for AP State Wide Area Network (APSWAN), Gujarat State Wide Area Network (GSWAN), Kerala State Wide Area Network (KSWAN) and Goa Broad Band Network (GBBN). The combined tendering value of these projects is over Rs 700 cCrores

Principal secretary, IT, R.S. Sharma refuted some of UTL’s claims.

“They could provide connectivity in just about 100 blocks out of total 212. Moreover, as per information with the department, the systems are working only in 46 blocks. They are short of menpower and before completion of the entire work, the state government cannot think of payments,” he said.

He, however, added that in the case of about 18 blocks without BSNL connectivity, the government was ready to relax rules.