Today also,Com.K.G. Jayaraj, General Secretary has contacted the Department of Expenditure and both the Under Secretary and Section Officer denied receipt of the DOT office memorandum, containing clarifications sought by the Department of Expenditure on 78.2% IDA merger. Then, General Secretary ascertained from the Director (Establishment), DOT that the letter was sent from the Central Registry on 15-07-2014.

BUT WHERE IT HAS GONE?

CHQ is arranging to give a copy of the letter to the concerned section in the Department of Expenditure so that the file can be processed without further delay.

It is reported in the press that the Telecom Authority of India has recommended to the Department of Telecom to allow sharing of all categories of spectrum. It will give undue advantage and benefit to the major Private Telecom Companies such as Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular, Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices. The recommendation, if accepted, is certain to curtail the revenue to the Central Government from auction of spectrum.

Naturally, the private operators have welcomed the recommendation of TRAI and have further demanded not to levy the spectrum usage charges and should not restrict it to bands.

Com. K. G. Jayaraj, General Secretary has contacted the section officer,Shri. Sanjay, Dept of Expenditure on today, the 21st, July, 2014 to know about the progress on 78.2% IDA merger issue. But the section officer stated that the file has not come to his section and wanted to know to whom it was addressed. General Secretary told him  that the DOT office memorandum dated 11th July, 2014 containing clarifications on the queries raised by the Department of Expenditure, addressed to Shri.Biplab Kumar Roy, Under Secretary, Department of Expenditure, North Bloc, New Delhi was sent on 15-07-2014.Then,the section officer agreed to check up with the Under Secretary and do the needful. General Secretary also informed this matter to the Director (Estt), DOT for confirming the receipt of the file at Department of Expenditure.

Shri. Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister for Communications & IT has stated in the Parliament that the unions will be consulted before any decision on revival of BSNL and MTNL, including merger of BSNL & MTNL, is taken. However, the Forum of unions/associations has not received any communication so far from the minister, though the Forum had written to the minister for a discussion on important issues much earlier.

The 7th Pay Commission has invited BCPC leaders for a preliminary discussion on 23rd July,2014. Com. S.C. Mahehwari, President, Com. S.K.Vyas, Secretary General and Com. V. A. N. Namboodiri, Dy Secretary General (HQ) and Advisor, AIBDPA will participate in the discussion.