Revelations in the strategically important S-band spectrum deal between Devas Multimedia and the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (Isro’s) commercial arm Antrix could prove to be another landmine for the United Progressive Alliance government if the matter is not handled transparently and quickly. It’s too much of a coincidence that there is a move to find a new head for Antrix – the current head is Isro chief K Radhakrishnan – after it was discovered that the contract between Antrix and Devas was loaded in the latter’s favour (“Isro to rejig Antrix Corporation”, February 13). The fact that Devas was floated by ex-Isro men adds to the suspicion about the alleged role of some Isro men in the deal, which the Union Cabinet approved in 2005. The Cabinet was not informed that the bulk capacity would be leased to Devas Multimedia. It is important to fix responsibility for the following:
- the careless manner in which this contract was drawn up;
- the fact that it took Isro four years to decide that the contract needed to be cancelled; and
- the cost of calling off the deal in terms of penalty for the delay in delivery of the satellite and the annual payment for the life of the satellite.
Any attempt to shield the culprits and delay in fixing responsibility will not bode well for the prime minister, since he heads the department in which this alleged bungling took place.
Y G Chouksey, Pune
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