Responses to CAG's queries soon: Minister

Under attack from the apex auditor for allegedly causing a loss of Rs 26,000 crore (Rs 260 billion) to the exchequer in award of telecom licences in 2008, telecom minister A Raja said on Wednesday some queries have been received from CAG and the DoT would respond to them soon.

"The comptroller and auditor general is sending some queries according to their own perceptions and inferences and it will be duly responded to by the department of telecommunication," the minister told reporters on the sidelines of a function in New Delhi.

He, however, said that this is not an annual report of the CAG. Raja has been facing the charge of distributing new licences at 2001 prices of Rs 1,658 crore (Rs 16.58 billion) for pan-India operations bundled with start-up spectrum of 4.4 MHz.

Even the CBI has filed a case against some unknown officials of the DoT for conniving with private companies for manipulation of licence terms and conditions.

The new licences were given as per the recommendations of the telecom regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, which had opposed auctioning of licences in 2007, saying this would give undue advantage to the incumbent operators who have been given licences under the same terms and conditions till early 2007.

"We are preparing a due reply to be sent to the CAG. . . .Thereafter, observations can be made," Raja said, adding that the reply would be sent by Thursday.

Asked if he thinks the allegations of Rs 26,000 crore- (Rs 260 billion-) loss because of his policies are baseless, the minister said:

". . .There is nothing baseless or otherwise. There is no question of that. CAG has sent some queries and it is under consideration of the DoT."

Image: A Raja