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NEW DELHI: Doordarshan has no plans of any new transmitters
in the current year, but will complete digitisation of 39
studios by March 2013.
Doordarshan presently covers 92 per cent population and 81
per cent area through 1415 transmitters.
The pubcaster will also complete ten earth station projects,
two high power transmitter projects, 56 automode low power
transmitters, and one very low power transmitter. Two studio
projects were completed in 2011-12.
All areas not reached terrestrially including the north east
are sought to be reached by Doordarshan’s free-to-air
direct-to-home service DD Direct Plus, Prasar Bharati sources
told indiantelevision.com.
Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Information
Technology has flayed the Ministry for the under-utilisation
of funds by Doordarshan.
In its explanation, the Ministry told the Committee that the
Expenditure under Capital Plan of Doordarshan during 2011-12
till February 2012 was Rs 884.6 million against the revised
estimates of 2011-12 of Rs 1.5751 billion and the likely expenditure
up to March 2012 under Capital Plan of Doordarshan was around
Rs 1.37 billion.
Delay in procurement/Supply of equipment and delay in Building/Tower
works at some places were the main reasons given for the under-utilisation.
The Actual Expenditure during the year 2009-10 was Rs 901.6
million and during the year 2010-11 was Rs 681 million under
Capital Plan of Doordarshan.
Asked
about efforts being made for full utilisation of funds and
the initiatives being taken by the Ministry, it was stated
that a High level Committee under the chairmanship of CEO,
Prasar Bharati, has been constituted for project monitoring
and implementation. This committee is regularly monitoring
the progress of the schemes and taking corrective action,
wherever required.
A three Member special empowered Committee on finance examines
and resolves all issues related to finance.
The sanctioning power of DG has been restored to Rs 200 million.
The time schedule for procurement and all other major activities
of a project have been drawn and the progress is being monitored
as per the schedule.
Regular review meetings at Zonal offices and in Civil Construction
Wing are being held to review the implementation of the projects.
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