Pawar to head EGoM that will decide on spectrum auction

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar will head a high-powered ministerial panel tasked with the onus of deciding on auction of telecom spectrum, a top DoT official said on Friday.

The empowered group of ministers has been reconstituted after Pranab Mukherjee, who was heading it, resigned as Finance Minister to contest the Presidential elections.

"The EGoM will now be headed by Pawar," the official said, adding the panel may meet on Monday to decide on issues relating to auction of telecom spectrum.

A crucial meeting of EGoM was scheduled for June 21 to decide on spectrum pricing and related issues but was deferred as Mukherjee did not want to sit on a judgement on such an important issue as he is entering Presidential race.

In February 2012, the Supreme Court cancelled 122 2G telecom licences issued during the tenure of former telecom minister A Raja, and asked the government to complete spectrum auction by August 31.

Image: Sharad Pawar