Group of ministers formed to look into 3G auction issues
By IANSMonday, July 13, 2009
NEW DELHI - The government Monday constituted an Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) to look into matters concerning third generation (3G) spectrum auctions scheduled to happen this year.
The nine-member EGoM will be headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, a Department of Telecommunication (DoT) official told IANS.
Apart from Communications Minister A. Raja, the other members are P. Chidambaram, Sharad Pawar, A.K. Antony, Veerappa Moily, Ambika Soni and Prithviraj Chavan, besides Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, the official said.
The EGoM will look into matters relating to pricing of spectrum and number of operators to be allowed in each telecom circle.
The finance ministry has proposed a base price of Rs.4,040 crore for 3G spectrum whereas the DoT suggested Rs.3,540 crore.
Communications minister Raja, however, has maintained that no final decision had been taken and it would be either the EGoM or the cabinet that would take a call on the spectrum reserve price.
While presenting the union budget, Mukherjee said Rs.35,000 crore was expected to be raised from the auctions.
