Reports of loss in S-band spectrum allocation baseless : PMO

Media reports claim that S-band spectrum valued at Rs 2 lakh crore was given at Rs 1000 Crore

PTI | February 8, 2011



The Prime Minister's Office today denied media reports that a private company has been allotted 70 MHz of spectrum for Rs.1000 crore through a deal with ISRO, saying no decision has been taken and hence charges of revenue loss of a whopping Rs.two lakh crore were without any basis.

The PMO clarification came even as BJP trained its guns on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying ISRO is directly under his charge and he cannot escape responsibility or accountability for the 2005 "deal".

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who was then Union minister dealing with the department, said in Mumbai, "in 2010, when I was a member of the Space Commission, this issue came up...it was decided to cancel it (agreement), that I am sure".

In Bangalore, former ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair, who was heading the organisation in 2005, sought to distance himself from the whole controversy on the ground that the organisation had nothing to do with spectrum allocation.

"Spectrum allocation is not our business. We build and operate satellites".

A statement from spokesperson of the PMO said that the office had seen media reports alleging loss of government revenue in a contract entered into by ANTRIX (the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation) and Devas Multimedia Private Limited due to lease of space segment capacity which would use S-Band spectrum.

"The Comptroller and Auditor General's office and Department of Space have already issued statements stating the factual position on the matter.

"It is further clarified that no decision has been taken by the government to allocate space segment using S-Band spectrum to ANTRIX or Devas. Hence, the question of revenue loss does not arise and any such reports are without basis in fact," the PMO statement said.

Media reports had stated that the Department of Space, which comes directly under the Prime Minister, had allocated 70 MHz of S-Band spectrum to Devas Multimedia for Rs 1,000 crore. The actual value of this was estimated to be around Rs 2 lakh crore, the reports claimed.

BJP alleged that the allocation was done quietly and without bringing the issue into the public domain.

Dubbing the PMO clarification as meaningless, the party said there are important questions which the Prime Minister must explain to the nation.

"It is self evident that Manmohan Singh is leading a regime that is the most corrupt after independence...yet it is claimed that he is Mr.Clean", BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters.

Prasad said Singh should answer whether ISRO sought his approval for the 2005 deal and if so on what terms and conditions.

Did the Department of Space headed by the Prime Minister insist upon public auction of the spectrum in view of largescale expansion of mobile telephony and other related use. If not, why not," he asked.

"There is collusion at high level. There are no checks and balances and there is virtual collapse of the system where scam after scam and scandal after scandal has become the order of the day", he said.
      
 

Comments

 

Other News

How the mind can help the body heal itself

Why do some people recover from illness against all odds? Can our beliefs, emotions and consciousness influence the body’s ability to heal? Drawing on over three decades of experience in medicine, research and medical innovation, internationally trained ophthalmologist and author Dr Dinesh Verma ex

1,364 anti-cancer formulations to cost less from today

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, has capped trade margins on the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of 137 anti-cancer drugs. This was based on the recommendations of an Expert Committee constitute

Who checks the books?

I read about the news about the Coimbatore library over coffee this morning. On the face of it, the headline was about a political ‘war’ between the DMK and TVK. But what stayed with me was something much more important than the blame game behind what had transpired. A writer walking through

Development paradox: Falling poverty miracle and an inequality problem

India’s reduction in poverty over the past decade is a development achievement of considerable significance. The World Bank’s April 2026 ‘India Development Update’ estimates that the share of Indians living below the international extreme-poverty line of $3.00 per person per day i

In Arunachal, a river we call mother

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang is not just a river. For many of us, especially the Adi people, it is part of our family. Our grandparents fished in it. Children learned to swim in it. Our farms drink from it. When someone says a huge dam will be built on it, we do not hear the word "project".

A new retelling of the Mahabharata delves into key moments

In a time when every decision carries consequences and questions of ambition, power, loyalty, identity and moral choice continue to shape our lives, Dr. Arun Krishnan’s new book, ‘Mahakshana’ (Penguin India) offers a strikingly relevant retelling of the Mahabharata.  

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter