Lok Sabha Question No. 2325 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-30
Subject: Outstanding Dues of Telecom PSUs
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: RAMCHARAN BOHARA, HARISH DWIVEDI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2325 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2016

## OUTSTANDING DUES OF TELECOM PSUS

†2325. SHRI RAM CHARAN BOHRA: SHRI HARISH CHANDRA ALIAS HARISH DWIVEDI:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the loss of BSNL and MTNL is on the increase and they have to recover a large amount from the consumers;
- (b) if  so, the details of the amount to be recovered with regard to landline services and mobile services separately during the last three years and the current year, along with the details of the amount recovered during the said period;
- (c) the  details  of  the  outstanding  amount  of  MTNL  against  Government  offices  and people's representatives in Delhi and Mumbai;
- (d) whether notices have been issued to the defaulters for non-payment of outstanding amount;
- (e) if so, the details in this regard and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (f) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  recover  the  outstanding  amount  from  the consumers of both the PSUs and the action taken by the Government to fix the responsibility for such huge outstanding dues?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a)& (b)

## BSNL

No Madam, the loss of BSNL is decreasing during the last three years and BSNL have to recover the outstanding from its consumers as per details given below:-

In respect of BSNL Landline and Mobile services outstanding as on 30-09-2016 is as below:-

(Amount in crores of rupees)

| Year                  |   Opening Balance of Outstanding |   Amount Billed For (ABF) during the year |   Gross Outstanding |   Amount recovered |   Closing balance of outstanding |
|-----------------------|----------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|---------------------|--------------------|----------------------------------|
| 2013-14               |                          2850.65 |                                   6352.25 |             9202.9  |            6632.48 |                          2570.42 |
| 2014-15               |                          2570.42 |                                   6313.77 |             8884.19 |            6479.66 |                          2404.53 |
| 2015-16               |                          2404.53 |                                   6100.85 |             8505.38 |            6683.68 |                          1821.7  |
| 2016-17 (Upto Sept.16 |                          1821.7  |                                   2896.9  |             4718.6  |            2899.94 |                          1818.66 |

Contd…2/-

## MTNL:

The loss of MTNL has declined from Rs. 2,893.40 crs in 2014-15 to Rs. 2,005.74 crs in 2015-16.  MTNL has to recover a large amount from its customers.  Details of outstanding dues  and  amount  recovered  during  last  three  years  and  current  year  of  MTNL  are  as  per Annexure-I and annexure-II .

(c)  Details  of  outstanding  amount  of  MTNL  against  Government  offices  and  people's representatives in Delhi and Mumbai as on 30.09.2016 is as below: -

(Rs. in Crs.)

| Delhi   | Delhi    | Mumbai   | Mumbai   | Total   |
|---------|----------|----------|----------|---------|
| Basic   | Wireless | Basic    | Wireless | MTNL    |
| 11.17   | 1.18     | 5.23     | 11.78    | 29.36   |

(d) & (e) Notices have been issued to the defaulters for non-payment of outstanding amount.

(f)  Following steps are taken to recover the outstanding amount from the customers of both the PSUs:-

## BSNL:

- 1)  Payment reminders through IVRS/SMS are being issued to persuade the customers to make payment before disconnection of their telephones.
- 2) Phones  are  disconnected  as  per  the  schedule  in  case  of  non-payment  of  dues  by customers.
- 3) Graded  discount  scheme  to  incentivize  defaulting  customers,  for  clearance  of  old outstanding dues was introduced.
- 4) Legal proceedings wherever required are initiated against the defaulters for recovery of dues.
- 5)  The State Governments have been requested to amend their respective Land Revenue Acts so that the defaulted Telephone dues of BSNL can be recovered as land revenue arrears.
- 6) Circle-wise and Year-wise target for liquidation of outstanding dues are fixed to  get the maximum realization.
- 7) The progress in regard to liquidation of outstanding dues is closely monitored and units are addressed periodically.
- 8) Instructions  have  been  issued  to  ensure  timely  issue  of  telephone  bills  and  to  effect disconnection of telephones for non-payment promptly.
- 9) If  no  payment  is  received  despite  disconnection,  registered  notices  followed  by  a  legal notices if necessary, are sent.
- 10) Circles have also been asked to utilize the services of State Government Departments in recovery of outstanding dues.
- 11) Procedure for settlement of defaulter cases through Lok Adalats has been introduced for recovery of outstanding telephone dues in respect of permanently closed connections.
- 12) In case any official/agency found responsible, action as per departmental guidelines are being taken which is a continuous process.

## MTNL:

1. Automated IVRS reminders and manual reminders are being given regularly,
2. Intimation through SMS to subscribers.
3. The  disconnection  of  the  Telephone  is  resorted  as  per  the  Standard  Operating Procedures.
4. Visits are being made to the subscriber premises wherever necessary.
5. Recovery Agents were appointed.
6. Recovery through LOK NYALAYA.
7. Recovery through Amnesty Scheme.
8. Wide  publicity  is  given  to  encourage  the  customer  to  settle  their  old  dues  by  offering discounts.
9. Recovery suits are filed in the court of law as per the procedures.
10.  Responsibility is being fixed wherever the SOP has not been followed.

## ANNEXURE-I

| Details of Amount to be recovered during the last three years and current year (Amnt. In Rs. crores)   | Details of Amount to be recovered during the last three years and current year (Amnt. In Rs. crores)   | Details of Amount to be recovered during the last three years and current year (Amnt. In Rs. crores)   | Details of Amount to be recovered during the last three years and current year (Amnt. In Rs. crores)   | Details of Amount to be recovered during the last three years and current year (Amnt. In Rs. crores)   | Details of Amount to be recovered during the last three years and current year (Amnt. In Rs. crores)   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                                                                        | DELHI                                                                                                  | DELHI                                                                                                  |                                                                                                        |                                                                                                        | TOTAL                                                                                                  |
| as on                                                                                                  | Basic                                                                                                  | Wireless                                                                                               | Basic                                                                                                  | Wireless                                                                                               |                                                                                                        |
| 31-03-2014                                                                                             | 467.76                                                                                                 | 207.54                                                                                                 | 231.46                                                                                                 | 58.39                                                                                                  | 965.15                                                                                                 |
| 31-03-2015                                                                                             | 469.44                                                                                                 | 209.31                                                                                                 | 232.23                                                                                                 | 56.08                                                                                                  | 967.06                                                                                                 |
| 31-03-2016                                                                                             | 466.28                                                                                                 | 192.70                                                                                                 | 209.64                                                                                                 | 51.35                                                                                                  | 919.97                                                                                                 |
| 30-09-2016                                                                                             | 470.59                                                                                                 | 172.81                                                                                                 | 206.21                                                                                                 | 51.71                                                                                                  | 901.32                                                                                                 |

Contd….4/-

Note:

1. Recoveries includes Payment, cancellation, write-off and Adjustment.
2. 2.
3. Delhi Mobile Services:- Amount recovered includes collection of current year billing,

as debtor ageing is not available  since billing and accounting is on customer account basis instead of invoice based.

*************

## ANNEXURE-II

## Details of the Outstanding  and Recovered Amount with regard to  land line and mobile services (Rs. In Crore)

| Services   | As on 31-03-2013   | As on 31-03-2013   | As on 31-03-2013   | Amount recovered During 2013-14   | Amount recovered During 2013-14   | Amount recovered During 2013-14   | As on 31-03-2014   | As on 31-03-2014   | As on 31-03-2014   | Amount recovered During 2014-15                 | Amount recovered During 2014-15                 | Amount recovered During 2014-15                 |
|------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
|            | Delhi              | Mumbai             | Total              | Delhi                             | Mumbai                            | Total                             | Delhi              | Mumbai             | Total              | Delhi                                           | Mumbai                                          | Total                                           |
| Landline   | 502.57             | 272.51             | 775.08             | 81.06                             | 83.57                             | 164.63                            | 467.76             | 231.46             | 699.22             | 54.62                                           | 48.45                                           | 103.07                                          |
| Mobile     | 196.33             | 52.78              | 249.11             | 49.22                             | 10.11                             | 59.33                             | 207.54             | 58.39              | 265.93             | 42.06                                           | 10.66                                           | 52.72                                           |
| Total      | 698.90             | 325.29             | 1024.19            | 130.28                            | 93.68                             | 223.96                            | 675.30             | 289.85             | 965.15             | 96.68                                           | 59.11                                           | 155.79                                          |
| Services   | As on 31-03-2015   | As on 31-03-2015   | As on 31-03-2015   | Amount recovered During 2015-16   | Amount recovered During 2015-16   | Amount recovered During 2015-16   | As on 31-03-2016   | As on 31-03-2016   | As on 31-03-2016   | Amount recovered During 2016-17 (up to Sept'16) | Amount recovered During 2016-17 (up to Sept'16) | Amount recovered During 2016-17 (up to Sept'16) |
|            | Delhi              | Mumbai             | Total              | Delhi                             | Mumbai                            | Total                             | Delhi              | Mumbai             | Total              | Delhi                                           | Mumbai                                          | Total                                           |
| Landline   | 469.44             | 232.23             | 701.67             | 59.74                             | 57.62                             | 117.36                            | 466.28             | 209.64             | 675.92             | 36.13                                           | 32.25                                           | 68.38                                           |
| Mobile     | 209.31             | 56.08              | 265.39             | 59.29                             | 7.41                              | 66.70                             | 192.70             | 51.35              | 244.05             | 40.06                                           | 3.42                                            | 43.48                                           |
| Total      | 678.75             | 288.31             | 967.06             | 119.03                            | 65.03                             | 184.06                            | 658.98             | 260.99             | 919.97             | 76.19                                           | 35.67                                           | 111.86                                          |