Banks' exposure to telecom sector is Rs 97,681 crore

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said banks have an exposure of Rs 97,681 crore in the telecom sector, which is grappling with financial stress. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Jaitley said SBI chairman has pointed out that stress in the telecom sector has reached ‘highly unsustainable levels’ due to erosion of topline and earnings of the service providers.

Quoting the Reserve Bank of India figure, Jaitley said total outstanding (funded) advances by public sector banks to the 'communications' sector stood at Rs 63,415 crore, while total exposure to the sector worked out to be Rs 97,681 crore. 'Communications' sector include, telecom - fixed network; telecom towers; telecommunications and telecom services, reports PTI.

For public sector banks, the gross Non Performing Asset (NPA) ratio and stressed advances ratio for the sector stood at 3.68 per cent and 11.29 per cent respectively, at the end of 2016-17 fiscal.

Jaitley further said the SBI chairman (Arundhati Bhattacharya) has made certain recommendations for tackling stress in the sector.

The suggestions, include aligning deferred payment liabilities for spectrum for its life, rationalisation of regulatory charges, quick resolution of litigation on definition of adjusted gross revenues, easing regulation of merger and acquisition.