DD, AIR to get Rs 1 bn

The range and capacity of Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR) transmitters in border areas is being augmented, following persistent complaints that stronger signals from across the border result in jamming Indian channels. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry is understood to have set aside a budget of around Rs 1 billion for this purpose. When pointed out that this was not a new complaint, Ministry sources told that Prasar Bharati was an autonomous body and the government could interfere only up to a certain extent. "In fact, senior officials in Prasar Bharati have themselves not got used to the fact that they work for an autonomous organisation," the source quipped. The sources also regretted that one reason for the weak signals was the fact that cable and direct-to-home operators often did not carry Doordarshan channels on the prime band as required under law under Section 8 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995.