Landline customers owe Rs 2,397 crore to BSNL

The government said on Wednesday an amount of Rs 2,397.66 crore (Rs 23.97 billion) was due for payment on September 30 in respect of landline bills for all telecom circles of state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited.

"An amount of Rs 2,397.66 crore in respect of landline bills for all telecom circles of BSNL was due for payment on September 30.

"Out of this, an amount of Rs 335.26 crore (Rs 3.35 billion) pertains to UP (E) telecom circle," Minister of State for Communications and IT Milind Deora said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.

He was replying to queries on whether huge landline bills were due for payment in BSNL's telecom circles, including UP (East).

"The outstanding amount for BSNL stood at Rs 3,194.34 crore (Rs 31.94 billion) in 2009-10, Rs 2,842.51 crore (Rs 28.42 billion) in 2010-11 and Rs 2,420.47 crore (Rs 24.2 billion) in 2011-12, while the telco recovered Rs 8,964.57 crore (Rs 89.64 billion) in 2009-10, Rs 6,700.05 crore (Rs 67 billion) in 2010-11 and Rs 5,975.56 crore (Rs 59.74 billion) in 2011-12,"

Deora said.

The state-run telecom operator had recovered Rs 2,541.84 crore (Rs 25.41 billion) up to September 2012.

The amount recovered is against the outstanding bills of previous years and also against fresh bills issued every year, he added.

Deora said the defaulter cases are being pursued in each circle through the pursuit cell and in respect of cases, found fit for litigation, legal process is initiated for recovery of dues from the defaulting customers.