(a) whether huge arrears of telephones bills is outstanding against Government hospitals and police stations throughout the country;
(b) if so, the details of the amount outstanding against the said hospitals and the police stations separately;
(c) the action likely to be taken by the Government to recover the dues from the said hospitals and the police stations; and
(d) the time by which the said dues are likely to be recovered?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI TAPAN SIKDAR)
(a) &(b) The outstandings against government hospitals and police stations in the whole country are Rs.3.4 crores and Rs. 35.7 crores, respectively.
(c) & (d) Authorities of the defaulting Departments are pursued on a regular basis for recoveries. The Chief Secretaries of the State in the case of hospitals, and the DG (Police) in the case of police stations, are also addressed. While it is difficult to fix a time limit, normally attempt is made to effect recovery within the same financial year.