Private telcos owe BSNL Rs 1,207 cr

Minister said reasons for outstanding dues include mismatch of call detail records, disputes arising due to trunk groups violation

State-owned telecom firm BSNL has Rs 1,206.65 crore dues against private operators, of which Rs 1,053.84 crore is under dispute, the government said today.

"BSNL has informed that their outstanding dues against private operators as on March 31, 2014 is Rs 1,206.65 crore. Out of this an amount of Rs 1,053.84 crore outstanding against private operators is under dispute," Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

The minister said reasons for outstanding dues and non- realisation of payments include mismatch of call detail records (CDRs) of BSNL and private operators, disputes arising due to trunk groups violation where higher rate of inter-usage charges (IUC) is applicable and short payments made by operators.

"BSNL has informed that out of the total dues an amount of Rs 47.21 crore has been realised up to June 30, 2014," Prasad said.

The state-run firm has taken various steps to recover the outstanding dues which include reconciliation of disputes arising out of CDR mismatch and IUC rates, adjusting outstanding dues from IUC payable to private operators and encashment of bank guarantee of private operators.