Question : TELECOM TRADE BY PGCI

(a) the amount of money earned so far by the National Power Grid Corporation from the telecom trade along with year-wise break-up thereof;

(b) whether any parameters were prescribed for the Power Grid Corporation at the time of its entry into the telecom sector as to the items of work on which the money earned from the telecom trade would be spent;

(c) if so, whether the said amount was utilized on the works earmarked therefor along with details thereof;

(d) if not, the reasons therefor;

(e) whether the economic burden on the power consumers has lessened as a result of entry of the corporation into the telecom sector; and

(f) if not, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER ( SHRIMATI JAYAWANTI MEHTA )

(a) : The revenue earned by POWERGRID in the telecom sector during 2001- 2002 is Rs.2.47 crore and that during 2002-03 is Rs.8.38 crore.

(b) to (d) : No specific parameters were prescribed for Power Grid Corporation at the time of its entry into telecom business. The additional revenue generated by POWERGRID through telecom sector would be ploughed back for development of transmission sector.

(e) & (f) : POWERGRID is in the process of implementation of schemes for modernization of its Regional Load Despatch Centres which include modernization of its dedicated communication system. The telecom scheme of POWERGRID envisages high capacity optical fibre at an incremental cost which could be harnessed for commercial use without any extra cost to the consumer.