NEW DELHI: The Public Accounts Committee, headed by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, has pulled up the Telecom Ministry for lapses in BSNL’s land deals that caused losses to the company.
The PAC in its report tabled in Parliament today noted that BSNL had paid for acquiring various plots but did not execute sale or lease deed to get those land assets transferred in its name which led to loss at several occasions.
The Parliamentary panel found that due to similar laxity, National Highways Authority of India had acquired a 273 square metre of land in 2003 that was purchased by BSNL but because the said land was in the name of Government, the authority did not pay any compensation to the state-run telecom firm.
“The Committee strongly deplore the confused and casual approach of the ministry in dealing with this matter. The committee are distressed to note that though the matter had come to the notice of the ministry after 13 years when this was pointed out by Audit, the Ministry are still oscillating and have not been able to resolve the issue till date,” the report said. (AGENCIES)
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