Updated: December 16, 2020 5:46:32 pm
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar addresses the media about the Cabinet decisions. (Screenshot: Youtube / GDP India)
The Union cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the next round of the telecom spectrum auction on Wednesday, I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar told a news conference, adding that the cabinet approved the relief for the sugarcane producers and improving electrical infrastructure in the northeastern states.
Spectrum in the 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz frequency bands will be auctioned for a validity period of 20 years. A total of 2251.25 MHz is offered with a total rating of Rs. 3,92,332.70 crore (at reserve price), the government said in its statement.
“The notice of invitation to applications will be issued this month and in March we propose to hold the auction of these spectra,” said the Minister of Information Technology (IT) and Communications, Ravi Shankar Prasad.
He added that the new spectrum will help improve the telecommunications infrastructure and improve services and said that the conditions for these spectrum auctions will be the same as in 2016.
Cabinet approves Rs 3.5 billion sugar export subsidy
In addition to the decision on spectrum auctions, the Cabinet also approved a Rs 3,500 crore subsidy to sugar mills for the export of 60 lakh tonnes of sugar during the current 2020-21 marketing year (October-September) in an attempt for helping them clear pending quotas from sugarcane producers, Javadekar said.
The minister said that both the “sugar industry and sugarcane producers are in crisis” due to the high national production that is estimated at 310 lakh tonnes compared to an annual demand of 260 lakh tonnes. He said the decision will benefit roughly five million farmers.
“This subsidy is intended to cover marketing expenses, including handling, improvement and other processing costs and international and internal transportation costs and export freight of up to 60 LMT of sugar limited to the Maximum Allowable Quota of Exportation (MAEQ) assigned to sugar mills for the 2020-21 sugar season, ”the government said in its statement.
Cabinet Approves Revised Cost Estimate of Northeast Region Electricity System Improvement Project
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the revised Northeast Region Power System Improvement Project (NERPSIP) cost estimate for six states at an estimated cost of Rs 6.7 billion.
Javadekar in his speech to the media said that the main objective of this project is the Center’s commitment to the economic development of the Northeast region by strengthening the Intra-State Transmission and Distribution Infrastructure in the Region.
He added that the implementation of this scheme will help create a reliable electricity grid and improve connectivity to the next load centers in the Northeast Region.
“The scheme will also increase the per capita energy consumption of these States and contribute to the total economic development of the Northeast Region,” said a government statement.
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