Annul S-band spectrum deal: Space Commission to CCS

New Delhi, Feb 15 (PTI) The Space Commission hasrecommended to the Cabinet Committee on Security(CCS) that thecontroversial S-Band spectrum deal between ISRO''s commercialarm Antrix and private firm Devas Multimedia be immediatelyannulled.

The Space Commission made this recommendation in a noteto the CCS, saying priority is required to be given to thecountry''s strategic requirements including societal ones. TheCCS is chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The Department of Space may take necessary steps and giveinstructions for scrapping the Antrix-Devas Agreement,according to the Commission''s draft note.

According to sources in the know, K Radhakrishnan,Secretary, Department of Space, wrote a letter to D R Meena,secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice in this regard.

The annulment comes in the wake of a raging controversyover the deal for handing over 70 Mhz of S-Band spectrum tothe private firm for Rs 1,000 crore on which the CAG hasalready initiated action.

According to news reports, this deal could have resultedin a loss of Rs two lakh crore to the exchequer.

Following these reports, the Government and ISRO saidthat the project was already under review and action has beeninitiated for termination of the contract.(MORE) PTISKB VSC GSN