Question : SERIOUS LAPSE IN CUMULATIVE BALANCES

(a) whether the Government are aware about Outstanding Bills Registers of Doordarshan were maintained year-wise but the outstandings were not carried forward to arrive at the cumulative balances consequent to which bills of Rs.363.51 crore were outstanding on August 2001 pertaining to the years 1997-98 to 2000-01;

(b) if so, whether an interest amount of Rs.157.94 crore became due thereon by August 2001;

(c) if so, the action taken/likely to be taken against the people responsible for this serious lapse; and

(d) the measures taken to recover the outstanding amount with full interest?

THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SMT. SUSHMA SWARAJ)
(a) to (c): Prasar Bharati has informed that DD is maintaining a ledger programme-wise and agency wise, giving full details of the amount billed and payment received. Year wise outstandings of each agency are also maintained. C&AG in its report No.2 of 2002 (Civil) has observed that outstanding Bills Registers were maintained year wise and the outstandings were not carried forward to arrive at the cumulative balances and that bills of Rs. 363.51 crore, relating to years 1997-98 to 2000-2001, were outstanding as on August 2001.
The C&AG Para is under examination in consultation with Prasar Bharati.
(d): Outstandings are monitored on monthly basis and agencies are reminded regularly for the clearance of the outstanding dues. No fresh programme is allotted to any defaulting agencies/producers. Agencies and producers who have outstanding, have been asked to follow a payment plan to wipe off the arrears. Defaulting agencies are allowed to run their programmes only on advance payment. Legal action has also been taken against defaulting agencies.