Minister for strengthening DD network

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 10

State Information and Public Relations Minister Mukesh Agnihotri today urged the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to strengthen the Doordarshan network in the state by making its coverage available on DTH. He said due to programmes being transmitted in the terrestrial mode, its reach was limited in the state.

In his address, which was read out by the Director Information and Public Relations at the 28th State Information Minister’s Conference (SIMCON) held at New Delhi today, the minister also demanded an OB van for the Shimla Doordarshan Kendra for ensuring better coverage of the state activities at the national level. He also requested the I&B Minister to provide 20,000 DTH receiver systems for the state as assured by the Government of India.

He said there was a need to equip the Shimla Doordarshan Kendra with sufficient staff. There was also a need to increase its functioning hours, which, at present, were only four hours a day for six days in a week and half an hour on Sundays, said Agnihotri.

The minister also stressed the need to set up FM radio stations in all district headquarters in phased manner to strengthen the reach of the All India Radio network in the state. He said at present, these stations were set up in Shimla, Dharamsala and Hamirpur.

He demanded utilisation of the existing high power transmitter installed at Kasauli for transmitting programmes of FM Shimla or installation of additional high power transmitter at Kasauli for the same.

Underlining the importance of the community radio stations in the state, he said the financial assistance for setting up the same should be extended to 90 per cent of the total cost subject to a ceiling of Rs 13.5 lakh from the existing Rs 7.5 lakh for making the endeavour financially viable to the NGOs.

He said, “Community radio can be an effective medium of infotainment and its stations should be set up in agriculture and horticulture universities, so that farmers can benefit from it.”