Monday, March 28 2005 20:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has raised a demand of Rs 1,840 crore from Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) towards network charges since 2000-01, a move, which could put tremendous pressure on MTNL's financial position.

While asking MTNL to settle the dues at the earliest, BSNL, in a letter to the former said, "the dues from 2004-05 may kindly be paid on a quarterly basis."

"The claims on account of network/Interconnection User Charges (IUC) consequent on introduction of IUC regime from May 2003, amount to Rs 1213.48 crore for 2003-04 and Rs 539.57 crore for 2004-05," the letter written by BSNL CMD A K Sinha said.

"But no payment has been received from your organization except the token amount of Rs 200 crore paid last year," the letter, a copy of which has also been sent to Department of Telecom (DoT), said.

MTNL CMD R S P Sinha, who is abroad, could not be contacted.

BSNL has also raised the issue of Rs 100 crore collected by MTNL from the members of Parliament since 2000-01 and asked for its share.

There was a defined revenue share formula in the pre-2000 regime (prior to BSNL's creation) and post 2003, telecom regulator TRAI introduced the IUC regime, which includes payment of Access Deficit Charge (ADC) to BSNL.

Asked whether BSNL has given a time period to MTNL to settle the dues, BSNL officials said, "We have written a letter and the matter is likely to be considered soon."