The government on Tuesday allowed state-owned BSNL to procure equipment for 10 million mobile lines immediately for expanding the capacity to meet the growing demand. "BSNL has been allowed to procure 10 million mobile lines immediately in view of the fact that 20 million lines are in the process of installation," an official statement said. The statement,however,did not give more details about the 10 million mobile lines. BSNL in 2008 had called for bids to supply equipment for 93 million lines. But following the reports of a high level panel,headed by Sam Pitroda in 2010,the management had decided to scrap the tender. The statement further said that the strike by BSNL employee unions,opposing planned divestment of the PSU,ended their protest after the government assured that the issue will be referred to a Group of Ministers. "We have assured them (unions) that the issue of disinvestment will be referred to a GoM and they would be consulted before taking other decisions with regard to BSNL," Telecom Minister A Raja said. Raja had also directed the Department of Telecom (DoT) to resolve the issue relating to revision of pay scale of non-executives and implementation of promotion policy for them within 15 days. The Department has also agreed to expeditiously move the proposal on revision of IDA pension to the Cabinet completing all the necessary formalities. On the issues of disinvestment of BSNL,voluntary retirement scheme and unbundling of last mile copper pairs,the BSNL unions has been assured that all stakeholders will be taken into confidence by the Department before arriving at a final policy decision. On the issue of absorption of ITS Group 'A,the Department has further assured that the Cabinet Note shall be sent for consideration to the Cabinet as per the timeframe decided earlier.
