GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
RAJY A SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO, 3208
TO BE ANSWERED ON 26TH AUGUST, 2010
Scrapping of Tender for GSM Lines
3208. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be 'pleased to state:
(a) whether a final decision has been taken on scrapping the 93 million GSM lines tender by BSNL in the wake of restrictive guidelines issued by the Central Vigilance Commission;
(b) the salient features of the recommendations of the Sam Pitroda Committee set up to evolve an agenda for the revival of BSNL; and
(c) the reasons behind BSNL being subject to constant surveillance by the CVC even on
routine procurement and tendering process?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI SACHIN PILOT)
(a) Yes, Sir. In view of the objections made by Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and further recommendation made by Sam Pitroda committee constituted to review the position of BSNL, BSNL Board on 21.05.2010 has decided to cancel the tenders for procurement of 93 million lines for GSM equipment by the four zones of BSNL.
(b) The salient features of the recommendations of the Sam Pitroda Committee are as under:
(c) The Central Vigilance Commission exercises superintendence over the vigilance administration of the various Ministries of the Central Government or corporations established by or under any Central Act, Government Companies, societies and local authorities owned or controlled by the Central Government or otherwise in terms of Section 8(1) (h) of 'The Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003.' However, no such surveillance has been put on by the Commission on the routine procurement and tendering process in BSNL.