The government received a total of Rs 236.99 crore from BSNL and MTNL as

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spectrum usage charges for the first half (April-September) of the current fiscal, Parliament was informed today.

"Up to the second quarter ended on September 30, 2011, the government has received Rs 16.99 crore from MTNL and Rs 220 crore from BSNL as spectrum usage charges, totalling to Rs 236.99 crore," Minister of State for Communications and IT Milind Deora informed the Lok Sabha today.

Telecom service providers have to pay a percentage of their adjusted gross revenue (AGR) to the government as spectrum usage charges.

Replying to another question, Deora informed that BSNL has sought support of Rs 9,306 crore per annum from the USOF toward the Rural Direct Exchange Lines (R-DEL) scheme following expiry of the current subsidy support of Rs 2,000 crore per annum given to BSNL for the period of three years from July 19, 2008, to July 17, 2011.

On another question related to cases of corruption reported in BSNL and MTNL, Deora said during the last three years and the current year, the total number of corruption cases reported in BSNL stood at 36, while it stood at 22 for MTNL.

"The nature of these cases are demanding and accepting illegal gratification, disproportionate assets, misappropriation," Deora said.

Punitive action, as prescribed under the rules, is taken against officers working in both companies that are found involved in such incidents. In addition to deterrent punitive action, preventive measures like inspection and training in vigilance matters are being adopted by both companies to eradicate such incidents, he said.