16/12/2011

17-12-2011:Recovery of dues by BSNL and MTNL ...report " PIS bureau..)

Shri Milind Deora, the Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology informed Rajya Sabha today in a written reply that the amounts realized by BSNL and MTNL from its customers during the year 2010-11 against the outstanding bills of previous years and bills issued during the year are Rs 12,587 crores and Rs 863 crores respectively. As on 31.3.2011, the total outstanding dues of BSNL and MTNL are Rs 5341 crores and Rs 1,103 crores respectively. Measures taken/being taken by BSNL and MTNL to recover their outstanding dues are as follows:

• Payment reminders through Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) and Short Message Service (SMS) are being issued to persuade the customers to make payment before disconnection of their telephones.

• Graded discount scheme regarding grant of discount to defaulting customers, for clearance of old outstanding dues was introduced.

• Incentive scheme to employees of BSNL for recovery of outstanding arrears from defaulters has also been put in place.

• The progress in regard to liquidation of outstanding dues is closely monitores and units are addressed periodically.

• BSNL circles have also been asked to utilize the services of State Government Departments in recovery of outstanding dues.

• Procedure for settlement of defaulter cases through Lok Adalat has been introduced for recovery of outstanding telephone dues in respect of permanently closed connections.