Defaulter UP hangs up on BSNL

The UP government owes BSNL over Rs 60 lakh as dues. But it has warned BSNL not to put pressure for payment of these bills—some date ba...

The UP government owes BSNL over Rs 60 lakh as dues. But it has warned BSNL not to put pressure for payment of these bills—some date back to more than a decade—else it will switch to a private telecom provider.

Confirming this, senior BSNL officials said they had agreed not to pester the government for early payment of bills, allowing the Secretariat Administration Department (SAD) to pay when convenient. In return, the government had agreed to continue to be a BSNL subscriber.

‘‘Of the pending amount, there are some bills worth Rs 16 lakh that date back to over 10 years,’’ said these officials.

BSNL has given 1,300 telephone connections to the state government, which have been installed at the official residences of ministers and bureaucrats. The SAD is supposed to pay the bills. However, for the last few years, it has not made any payment. Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav is among the defaulters, with a due of Rs 29,123. Heading the list is Revenue Minister Kailash who owes Rs 2,25,180, followed by the PWD Minister with Rs 1,18,000.

Following BSNL’s demand for payment, SAD, on September 7, 2004, sent a letter requesting it not to disconnect the phones of ministers and bureaucrats. Two months later, when there was still no sign of a payment, BSNL disconnected some of the lines, including that of the CM’s. A couple of days later, SAD paid about Rs 10 lakh, and asked for 10-days to clear the remaining dues. In the meantime, officials of the Secretariat department sent a letter, dated December 16, 2004, inviting BSNL officials to a meeting to settle the matter.

On January 10, at the meeting, SAD officials said the government may change to a private telecom provider if pressurised to pay the dues.