Union Communications Minister Kapil Sibal has assured to consider demand to reduce wireless set fee and revoke royalty and penalty. Home and Jail Minister Babulal Gaur met Minister Sibal in New Delhi on Thursday and demanded to reduce wireless set fee and revoke royalty and penalty.
As a result, State police can get new wireless sets to strengthen communication system and control crimes effectively. Gaur said that he apprised the Union Communication Minister that the State Government had deposited Rs 3.25 crore as wireless fee for the period from June 2004 to March 2013 in March 2013. Following it, the Union Communication Ministry had asked Madhya Pradesh to deposit additional licence fee and royalty worth Rs 8.14 crore against requisition of 14,140 VHF sets and 20 HF sets.
Gaur informed that Rs 5 crore was demanded in January 2008, which was about 240 times high. Before May 2004, license fee was Rs 100 per equipment. Wireless set fee was steeply hiked after year 2004 with provision of 18 percent penalty. At present, Rs 5700 per annum per set is being charged on requisitioned equipments whereas base price of wireless is Rs 8,000 to 10,000. He informed that state police does not use wireless sets commercially but in national security, public welfare, people’s safety and maintenance of law and order.
The Minister urged Union Minister Sibal to revert licence fee to earlier Rs 100 per set per annum and end all royalties and penalties. Minister Sibal assured to consider these demands.