None of our officials decided spectrum lease to Devas: ISRO

Abhishek Shukla New Delhi, Mar 27 (PTI) Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) has said none of its official or anyone
from Antrix Corporation or Space department was involved in
the decision to lease precious S-band spectrum to Devas
Multimedia at a throw away price in a controversial satellite
deal which has been since annulled by the Indian government.
The ISRO, which came under criticism over the deal that
could have caused a huge loss to the exchequer, also refused
to make public the contract which its commercial arm Antrix
Corporation Limited had signed with Devas Multimedia in
January 2005.
The space organisation said in response to an RTI query
seeking names of officials, who were party to decision making
for the deal that "none of the officials of Department of
Space/Indian Space Research Organisation were involved in the
decision making process regarding allocation of S-band
spectrum to Devas Multimedia."
The applicant had also sought to know from the ISRO file
notings of the deal signed by Devas Multimedia way back in
2005. The space organisation did not provide the notings
saying, "the contract was prepared and finalised by mutual
discussions between the parties. The interactions were
basically in the form of technical presentations in line with
the international practice."
The disclosure of file notings could bring to light
officials who were consulted before Antrix entered the
controversial deal, their views on the proposal put forth by
Devas Multimedia and circumstances in which decision was taken
to include clause in the contract which allowed use of rare
S-band spectrum by the private firm.
Under the deal, Antrix was to provide scarce S-Band
wavelength, which is primarily kept for strategic interests of
the country, to Devas for running its digital multimedia
service by leasing 90 per cent transponders on two satellites
-- GSAT-6 and GSAT-6A. The company had to pay Antrix a total
of USD 300 million over a period of 12 years.
Antrix had signed the contract in January 2005 and got
sanction of the Space Commission and the Union Cabinet for the
two satellites at the cost of nearly Rs 400 crore without
informing them that bulk capacity would be leased to Devas.
In December 2009, ISRO ordered a review of the deal and
subsequently Space Commission recommended its annulment on
July 2, 2010. The Commission had also suggested restructuring
Antrix and a report on the matter had been submitted to ISRO
subsequently.
The Centre had annulled the contract after allegations of
selling scarce wavelength at throwaway price were levelled by
the Opposition. Telecom department had also objected saying
the spectrum was for strategic use and should not be given for
commercial ones as was the case of Devas multimedia.