Telecom PSUs headless, key posts vacant for months

NEW DELHI: At a time when the NDA government is talking about efficiency and pace in decision-making, most crucial arms of the telecom ministry are headless.

Chiefs of several entities, including CMDs of MTNL and BSNL, are yet to be appointed despite the posts lying vacant for months.

The two PSUs remain headless despite the new government's assertion that it wants to turn around the ailing state-run companies, which have been a drag on the exchequer and are fast losing out to private operators.

After the retirement of RK Upadhyay in June, BSNL has been without a full-time CMD. Its affairs are being managed by A N Rai, director of its enterprise division, who has the additional charge of CMD.

The Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB) had recommended the name of Anupam Shrivastava (director for consumer mobile services) for the BSNL CMD's position in December last year during the term of the previous UPA government, but his appointment is yet to be cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
MTNL CMD AK Garg had retired on May 30, and the post has since been lying vacant despite the selection of PK Purwar (director of finance) for the post by the PESB in November last year.

Even as he officiates as the CMD, an additional charge, Purwar's appointment too is yet to be cleared by the ACC. His additional charge runs till the middle of September by when he will complete a three-month term.

Bharat Broadband Network (BBNL), a PSU entrusted with the ambitious task of laying a fibre optic network across the country, has also become headless with N Ravi Shanker, its CMD, moving out and taking over as the secretary for department of administrative reforms.

Shanker was also the administrator of Universal Services Obligation (USO), a department entrusted with rolling out networks in rural and low population-density areas. This position also remains headless now.

Many crucial positions also remain vacant within the department of telecom (DoT), mostly related to the important area of spectrum.

The position of member (technology) has been lying vacant since the retirement of Anil Kaushal at the end of June. Member technology takes all the crucial decisions regarding the sale and allotment of spectrum, which is not only a huge revenue source for the exchequer but is also crucial in planning and allocating mobile airwaves for the telecom operators.

AK Purwar, adviser (technology), holds the additional charge of member (technology) till a formal appointment is made. The position of member (services) at DoT is also vacant after SC Misra retired at the end of July. Ram Yagya, adviser (operations), has been given the additional charge.

Officials said on the condition of anonymity that several files are pending and many crucial decisions are held up due to delays in the appointments.