KHOTANG: Telephone owners are fleecing villagers in the district. Consumers said they were compelled to pay twice the rate fixed by Nepal Telecom for each call made.

Dhakamsher Rai, a Khanidanda local, said he was charged six to eight rupees per minute of local call. ‘’Telephone operators charge high rates since there are few telephone lines in the village,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, telephone owners charge between seven to 10 rupees in Yamkha VDC per minute of local call, said Krishna Karki of Dandagaun VDC. Private telephone booths in Suntale, Phaktang, Paulashera, Mouwabot, Devisthan, Chorambu, Batase, Dipsung, Bakachol and Khalle charge customers dearer rate than the one provided

by Nepal Telecom. Civil society leaders claimed that the local Telecom

office had not done

anything to end the monopoly despite their frequent requests.

Mobile service in the rural areas is of poor quality. Nepal Telecom has distributed about 3,000 GSM and CDMA lines in Khotang. Mobile users said the cards had been of no use. ‘’What is the use of carrying a phone if we cannot call in need?’’ wondered Yadav Dhamala. RUIM and SIM cards are readily available in Diktel, the district headquarters.

“I feel like throwing my mobile phone away,”

said Sarbajit Baniya, a shopkeeper.

Meanwhile, Rewati Bhujel, acting chief, Nepal Telecom, feigned ignorance about the problem.