| MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING |
| UNSTARRED |
QUESTION NO: |
1996 |
| DILAPIDATED CONDITION OF DD/AIR STATIONS |
| SHASHI THAROOR |
Will the Minister of
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INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING |
be pleased to state:-
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(a) whether some buildings of All India Radio (AIR) stations and Doordarshan Kendras (DDKs) in the country including border areas are in a dilapidated condition for the past several years;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor alongwith the remedial measures taken/being taken by the Government, DDK/AIR wise and State-wise;
(c) whether there have been complaints of lack of AIR and DD coverage in border areas of the country;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefore; and
(e) the details of the steps taken and the funds allocated for the upgradation of DD and AIR network in the country including in border areas? |
| ANSWER |
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SHRI C.M.JATUA)
(a) & (b) No, Sir. However, condition of some of the building taken by Doordarshan from State Governments/Private parties are not satisfactory and in such case matter regarding repair of the buildings is taken up with the owners from time to time and Doordarshan also carries out the repairs in critical cases.
(c) & (d) Requests for expansion of AIR/Doordarshan coverage in border areas have been received from time to time from various quarters. Both All India Radio and Doordarshan has been assigning priority to expansion and improvement of their coverage in border areas in its expansion plans.
(e) Special Packages for expansion and improvement of AIR/Doordarshan services in North-East States & J&K have been implemented. 273 Nos. of TV Transmitters of varying power are presently functioning in the border districts. The areas uncovered by terrestrial transmitters (including border areas) alongwith rest of the country have been provided with multi channel TV coverage through Doordarshan’s free-to-air DTH service signals of which can be received anywhere in the country with the help of small sized dish receive units.
Besides, the Low Power Transmitters at Port Blair (DD1 & DD News), Kokrajhar, Bikaner, Dharmshala. Chattarpur, Saharsa & Bilaspur already upgraded to HPTs during 11th Plan period. Project of upgradation of LPT at Mehboobnagar to HPT is under implementation. A scheme involving an outlay of `100.00 crore for further strengthening of AIR and DD coverage in J&K has been approved and as a part of this scheme 5 High Power TV Transmitters are envisaged to be set up.
As regards All India Radio, in order to improve its coverage and quality in the country including the border states, the following schemes are under implementation:-
(i) The old MW/SW/FM Transmitters which have served its life are being replaced.
(ii) Existing compatible MW/SW transmitters are being digitalized.
(iii) FM network is being strengthened by installing new FM transmitters in the country including in border States.
(iv) The production facilities and connectivity are also being digitalized.
1399.22 crores have been allocated for upgradation of AIR network in the country during 11th Plan. |
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