VADODARA, Sept 27: Representatives of three non-governmental organisation (NGOs), protesting against the ``irrational'' local call charges, called upon senior officials of the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) on Monday to inquire about the progress made in their complaints against overcharging by the STD-PCO operators.According to a press release, Social and Cultural group of Baroda, Yuva Prahar and Akota Young Circle met General Manager, Department of Telecommunication, Rakesh Babu and sought details about the action taken against the operators.According to Shailesh Shah of the SCG, notices were served on 101 STD-PCO operators and while licenses of 17 operators were cancelled permanently, temporary cancellation of licenses was ordered in 45 cases. But the remaining operators were let off with a warning, he added.The non-governmental organisation's claimed that the GM had assured them that a team of 26 officers would be formed to carry out surprise raids on the booths. ``We have been assured that the teams comprising two officials each would carry out the raids,'' Shah claimed.A press release issued by the Department of Telecommunication, later, said that a special drive was being taken up by the department to ensure display of tariff rates, identity cards and if the complaint notices were being followed by the operators.The release added that during inspection, the officials would check for display of sign board for local charges i.e Re 1 per unit for Coin Collection Box (CCB) type PCOs and Rs 1.26 per unit call for attended type PCOs, identity cards of the STD-PCO holder, working hours of the booths, if the PCO was being run by the licensee only, if separate cabin was provided for PCO and if the charging machine printed the STD PCO number in the slip for easy identification.The release further said that in case of complaints, people could contact the vigilance officer or the Gebeneral Manager in their offices at Karelibaug.
