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The government now says it is "pained" at seeing that
no actual ground work has been done on CAS in Delhi. It therefore
proposes to collect some more data to
review the situation. A stand that can safely be described as just
a step away from the junking of CAS.
Addressing the media, Prasad, who has been the one piloting CAS
since he took the reins at the ministry in January, couldn't have
been more dramatic on the last day of the year when he advised cable
consumers in Delhi to "learn to say no" when asked by
the cable operator whether they want a set top box or not.
Prasad's comments were in reponse to a specific query as to what
the consumer should do from New Year's Day if cable operators were
to force set top boxes on them. As clear an indication (if any were
needed) as any that CAS is about to be dumped.
A clearly frustrated cable fraternity, meanwhile, has warned that
monthly cable subscription rates could be raised to Rs 450 to Rs
500 as a fallout of this happening.
Both Dixit and Malhotra have been critical of the rollout of CAS
in South Delhi areas, stating that in its present form, it is not
consumer friendly.
A few days ago, Malhotra also wrote a letter to Prasad saying that
CAS should be deferred in Delhi for a year.
With general elections looming large over the country, much ahead
of the late 2004 polls (as per the original schedule), consigning
of CAS to the dustbin of history may end up becoming a populist
measure for power and vote hungry politicians.
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