Government hauls up BSNL, may examine 4G tender irregularity

NEW DELHI: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is expected to take up complaints in an Internal Committee against Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for not conforming to Centre’s Make in India norms for next-generation equipment purchase in a recent notice inviting tender (NIT), and warned of disciplinary action.
In a circular issued to the state-run BSNL chairman Pravin Kumar Purwar, dated April 28, seen by ETT, the department said, “in case the complaint is not resolved and/or the complainant is not satisfied with the redressal, then this complaint is to be taken up during the forthcoming meeting of the Internal Committee of the DoT constituted for vetting the restrictive and discriminatory terms against domestic manufacturers of telecom products.”
The move comes close on the heels of a strongly-worded letter by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) which said that disciplinary action could be taken against erring officials for putting up restrictive conditions to exclude homegrown companies from bidding for the supply of fourth-generation or 4G gear to the public-sector telecom carrier.