(a) whether DoT spent Rs. 300.85 crores in excess of sanctioned amount by the Government in Revenue Voted Section in the past few years;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether DoT has Rs. 1503.99 crores as unspent funds under Capital Voted Head;
(d) if so, the reasons for the anomaly; and
(e) the corrective steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI TAPAN SIKDAR)
(a) In the year 1998-1999, there was an excess of Rs. 300.85 crores under the Revenue Voted section.
(b) The revenue generated in 1998-1999 were in excess of expectation by Rs. 300.85 crores. The excess Revenue was transferred to Reserve Fund through Appropriations. This was not really excess expenditure.
(c) In the year 1998-1999, there was a saving of Rs. 1503.99 crores in the Capital Voted section.
(d) The main reasons for the savings under Capital Section in 1998-1999 were due to the decision in that year to reduce the sanctioned grant under the scheme BB4-Long Distance Transmission Scheme.
(e) With the corporatisation of the service functions of Department of Telecom Services/Department of Telecom Operations and the formation of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited with effect from 1.10.2000, the budgeting and accounting systems of the Company have been completely revamped. The Department of Telecommunications now only looks after the functions of policy formulation, licensing, wireless spectrum management and the administrative control of the Public Sector Undertakings and its much reduced expenditure will be met from the General Exchequer. Likewise, the few receipts of the Department will also accrue to General Revenues.