(a) whether a number of telephone subscribers have defaulted in payment of telephone bills to MTNL and BSNL;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the total outstanding dues which are to be recovered from the subscribers as on date;
(c) the details of loss suffered by the MTNL and BSNL as a result thereof; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government to recover the arrears?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRIMATI SUMITRA MAHAJAN)
(a) & (b) The amount involved in the cases of default constitutes about 3% of the amount billed by Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), the two public sector telephone providers. The total 3-month old arrears of MTNL and BSNL against various Government and Private subscribers as on 31.12.2002 is as under:
Govt. Depts. Private
MTNL 18 crores 857 crores BSNL 306 crores 2349 crores
1. The defaulters are disconnected when their dues are unpaid.
2. Targets for liquidation of outstandings is set and performance monitored against them each year.
3. High Power Committees and Liquidation Boards have been set up to facilitate liquidation of dues.
4. The collection efficiency is monitored each month.
5. Outstanding Pursuit Cells are functioning at Headquarters level and also at the Circle level. 6. Where necessary, after disconnection of telephones, legal action is also initiated for recovery of the dues.