Question : BLACK MARKETING OF MOBILE CARDS

(a) the number of active mobile connections under the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Maharashtra;

(b) the present position of telephone connections under the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Maharashtra;

(c) whether there is black marketing of mobile cards of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Maharashtra;

(d) if so, whether the employees of the company and the dealers are found to be involved in this black marketing; and

(e) if so, the measures being taken by the Government to check this menace and the details of action taken/proposed to be taken against the officers found guilty?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DR. SHAKEEL AHMAD )

(a) Sir, the number of working mobile connections of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) in Maharashtra Telecom Circle Service Area as on 30.11.2004 is 690277.

(b) New mobile connections are not provided at the moment due to capacity constraints.

(c) to (e) One case of black marketing of mobile SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) cards has come to the notice of BSNL. Investigations were carried out and two officials of BSNL have been placed under suspension. Stock of mobile SIM cards at various outlets is being monitored to prevent black marketing and capacity of the network is also being augmented to make the connections available on demand during 2005