Kolkata, Jan 18 (IANS) The government is planning to spend Rs.200 billion on a scheme to connect all the panchayats in the country, Minister of State for Communications and IT Sachin Pilot said Wednesday.

“The government is committed to deliver IT facility across the country. In the next 24-30 months, the government is planning to connect all 2.5 lakh panchayats through fibre optic broadband network,” Pilot told reporters here on the sidelines of foundation stone laying ceremony for National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology.

“The government has also cleared Rs.67 crore for state wide area network,” he said.

Pilot also hoped the Lokpal bill will be passed in parliament in the forthcoming budget session.

The Lokpal bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on the first day of the specially extended three-day session of parliament while the Rajya Sabha debated the legislation but adjourned without voting on it on the last day.

“Our government had cleared the Lokpal bill in the Lok Sabha. But everybody knows that we do not have majority in the Rajya Sabha,” the minister said.

He, however, said there was a need for more discussion on the bill.