Banks' exposure to telecom sector at Rs 97,681 crore, says Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said bankshave an exposure of Rs 97,681 crore in
the telecom sector, which is grappling with financial stress.In a written reply
to the Rajya Sabha, Jaitley said SBI Chairman has pointed out that stress in
the telecom sector has reached "highly unsustainable levels" due to
the erosion of topline and earnings of the service providers.
Quoting the Reserve Bank of India figure,
Jaitley said total outstanding (funded) advances by public sectorbanks to the
'communications' sector stood at Rs 63,415 crore, while total exposure to the
sector worked out to be Rs 97,681 crore.
'Communications' sector includes telecom —
fixed network; telecom towers; telecommunications and telecom services. For public sector banks, the gross Non
Performing Asset (NPA) ratio and stressed advances ratio for the sector stood
at 3.68 per cent and 11.29 per cent respectively, at the end of 2016-17 fiscal.
The suggestions, include aligning deferred
payment liabilities for spectrum for its life, rationalisation of regulatory
charges, quick resolution of litigation on the definition of adjusted gross
revenues, easing regulation of merger and acquisition."Government has
already constituted an Inter-Ministerial Group for the sector," the financed minister said.

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