01-05-2009, 04:20 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Another jolt for Raja: FinMin wants 3G auction reserve price doubled
pioneer.com
J Gopikrishnan | New Delhi
If the extension of the 3G spectrum auction date was a major embarrassment for the Union Telecom Ministry, which wanted the process wrapped up by January 16 even before the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the issue, the Union Finance Ministry has now delivered a stinging blow to Telecom Minister A Raja by proposing a drastic revision in the reserve price for the bid. The Governmentâs proactive role comes in the wake of the 2G spectrum scam reported by The Pioneer.
<b>With this new move, the extended date of January 30 for 3G spectrum auction finalisation may now be further pushed ahead.</b>
In a bid to ensure that the public exchequer is not duped, the Finance Ministry has proposed doubling of the reserve price of 3G Spectrum auction to Rs 4,040 crore for pan-India licences from the Rs 2,020 crore laid down by the Telecom Ministry.
The Department of Telecom had, in a note to the Cabinet, suggested a sum of Rs 2,020 crore for a pan-India licence. The note was delivered to Cabinet Secretary KM Chandrasekhar just a few days before a scheduled Cabinet meeting. The Minister had reportedly tried to get the clearance of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), scheduled for January 2.
But his attempts were foiled when the Prime Ministerâs Office and the Cabinet Secretary took a firm stand that they needed time for a "thorough study" of the note sent by the Department of Telecom to avoid the controversies that erupted following a hasty allocation of spectrum for 2G players.
Incidentally, the Telecom Ministry had not taken CCEA clearance for that deal. Not just that, it went ahead despite opposition from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). The furore led to demands from the Opposition parties for Rajaâs resignation. Since then, the Telecom Minister has been under tremendous pressure to ensure transparency and accountability in spectrum bids.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
pioneer.com
J Gopikrishnan | New Delhi
If the extension of the 3G spectrum auction date was a major embarrassment for the Union Telecom Ministry, which wanted the process wrapped up by January 16 even before the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the issue, the Union Finance Ministry has now delivered a stinging blow to Telecom Minister A Raja by proposing a drastic revision in the reserve price for the bid. The Governmentâs proactive role comes in the wake of the 2G spectrum scam reported by The Pioneer.
<b>With this new move, the extended date of January 30 for 3G spectrum auction finalisation may now be further pushed ahead.</b>
In a bid to ensure that the public exchequer is not duped, the Finance Ministry has proposed doubling of the reserve price of 3G Spectrum auction to Rs 4,040 crore for pan-India licences from the Rs 2,020 crore laid down by the Telecom Ministry.
The Department of Telecom had, in a note to the Cabinet, suggested a sum of Rs 2,020 crore for a pan-India licence. The note was delivered to Cabinet Secretary KM Chandrasekhar just a few days before a scheduled Cabinet meeting. The Minister had reportedly tried to get the clearance of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), scheduled for January 2.
But his attempts were foiled when the Prime Ministerâs Office and the Cabinet Secretary took a firm stand that they needed time for a "thorough study" of the note sent by the Department of Telecom to avoid the controversies that erupted following a hasty allocation of spectrum for 2G players.
Incidentally, the Telecom Ministry had not taken CCEA clearance for that deal. Not just that, it went ahead despite opposition from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). The furore led to demands from the Opposition parties for Rajaâs resignation. Since then, the Telecom Minister has been under tremendous pressure to ensure transparency and accountability in spectrum bids.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->