TRA strikes back

TRA STRIKE BACK  : TRA  watch dog  recommended  are want 69 2G  licensed  to  be scrapped.

 New twist to  contra verse that lead to resignation Sunday former  communication minister A.Raja.Indian telecom watch dog Thursday said it had recommended scraping of 69 of 122 licenses given for 2G phone services to new players. 

“The role out of services on these licenses has failed to comply with set norms. Six companies had been given  69 licenses” a senior official in the telecom regulating authority  of India said.

“ these companies must be penalized “ said official, adding that the licensing and terms clearly spell out how much net work has to be rolled out in the licensed  area each year and penalty entailed  for failing to do.

Of 69 liceses,20 have been issued to Loop telecom,15 to Etisalat DB ,11 TO  Sistema-shyam ,10 Videocon and 8 to Uninor and 5 TO Unninor.

According to officials of Sam char bhavan  the head quarters of Dept of telecom (DOT)  the recommendation will be examined and if required notices could be issued to companies to show cause notice why licenses should not be cancelled or scraped. These are not directions but recommendation they will be duly examined.” a senior official said explaining process involved.

The suggestion come after the most serious incitement on 2G spectrum-scam  in which Indian officials auditor said former communication minister A. Raja even ignored prime minister  Manmohn Singh  advice and all  other radio frequency to new telecom players at low prices.

The comptroller and audit general of India has estimated the preventive revenue loss to exchequer at RS 58,000 CRORES (12.8 billion dollars) and 1.75 lakh crores nearly (40 billion dollars)based on different valuation parameters.

In 96 page report including annexure table in parliament the auditor sought  to spell out what it felt was potential loss to exchequer in 2G spectrum allocation in 2007-08 due policies followed by then communication minister A. Raja.

“The entire process of spectrum allocation was under taken in arbitrary manner “ said report, adding that the estimates of loss was based on various parameters-without recourse to any mathematical or economic modes and -and presumptive in nature.

The issue has been simmering for our two years and after refusing to resign saying that he had no wrong . Raja quit his job past late night Sunday ending opposition-congress stand off that however continue to paralyze parliament.

It is very sad  that former communication minister should have resigned instead of forced to go out.

Such bad incidents make India position bad  when  country is trying to attract foreign investors.