DoT asks telcos for remaining AGR dues as SC hearing nears

New Delhi, March 4 Ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on March 17, the government on Wednesday asked Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and other telecom companies to pay remaining AGR dues without further delay and submit their self-assessment papers, sources said.

One of the telecom companies which has paid full and final figure as per its self assessment said they will respond to the letter but any immediate payment is ruled out.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) wrote to all telcos asking them to pay balance dues "without delay". The government has so far received Rs 25,896 crore from AGR payments.

DoT officials said telcos will be called to explain their self-assessment if their written explanation of the said calculation of the figure does not match up to DoT parameters. They have to pay the remaining statutory payments, said the source.

So far, Airtel has paid Rs 18,004 crore and said this is the full and final amount and Tatas had earlier paid Rs 2,197 crore saying it is the final amount but later paid another Rs 2,000 crore. Vodafone Idea has not submitted its self-assessment amount but has given Rs 3500 crore.

Airtel's dues are at Rs 35,500 crore, Vodafone Idea's at Rs 53,000 crore and Tata's at over Rs 14,000 crore.