Telecom PSUs to come under newly formed DoT Services

BANGALORE: In a notification issued on October 15, the government transferred
administrative control of all PSUs previously under DoT, including MTNL and
VSNL, to the newly formed DoT Services. The newly formed department will also
control Indian Telephone Industries, Hindustan Teleprinters, Telecommunications
Consultants India and the Centre for Development of Telematics.

According to the notification, the new department will be responsible for all
matters "other than policy matters". Under the New Telecom Policy, DoT
is supposed to be corporatised by 2001. The Telecom Commission headed by the DoT
secretary Anil Kumar will handle policy matters. DoT will also be responsible
for administration of laws such as the Indian Telegraph Act and the Telecom
Regulatory Authority of India Act.

The secretary in the newly formed department, Vinod Vaish, who was the
special secretary in the ministry of environment and forests, is expected to
take charge next Monday. Mr Vaish's appointment has already triggered off
controversies, with officers belonging to the Indian Telecom Services lodging
protest against the appointment of an IAS officer.