Bihar demands HPT on border, regulation of cable operators
New Delhi | Saturday, Dec 5 2009 IST
 

The Bihar Government today demanded enhancement of capacity of All India Radio and Doordarshan by setting up of high-powered transmitters (HPT) in remote areas along the 700-km-long international border with Nepal.

Participating in 27th State Information Ministers Conferance, Information and Public Relations Minister Ram Nath Thakur also emphasised the need for regulating cable operators indulging in telecasting baseless and malicious news through registration.

He said Doordarshan centres proposed at Madhubani and Gaya be established on a priority basis.

High-powered transmitters should be established in border areas of Purnea, Katihar, Kishanganj and Motihari as such HPT transmission was being done by Nepal and Bangladesh, he added.

Similarly, All India Radio or FM centres should be opened in border districts of Sitamarhi, Kishanganj and Raxaul.

Highlighting that many news channels were launched by cable operators in the state with substandard and poor quality coverage, the Minister said most of time they were driven by vested interests and partisan biases and indulge in telecasting baseless and malacious news and analysis.

Such cable operators were not under any obligation for registration before telecasting news, he pointed out.

''To regulate these news channels, it is essential to make registeration compulsory and the authorised officer (District Magistrate) should be empowered for administrative control.

Programmes likely to generate superstitions, orthodoxy, hatred, obscenity and irrational ideas in the name of liberalisation should also be strictly regulated.'' According to Mr Thakur, the responsibility for registration of cable operators should be entrusted to the state-level nodal department. Registration of the DTH service should also be entrusted to the authorised officers like District Magistrate and registeration fees be fixed and regulated by TRAI.

He also demanded the setting up of a branch of Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) and Film and Television Institute in the state by collaborating with existing Universities. This would create skilled manpower in mass communication, film and televison techniques and also prevent large-scale migration of youth for attending such courses outside, the Minister said.

The state government also demanded central assistance for organising Film festivals in the state.

He said Bihar was aware of the problem of piracy and counterfeiting in the information and cinematography sector and committed to implementing with utmost rigour, anti-piracy measures.

Mr Thakur said the state government had sensitised both the District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police to curb piracy.

Regular raids and seizures are being conducted and criminal cases under the Cinematograph Act, the Indian Penal Code and the Copyrights Act were being registered.

-- (UNI) -- 05DI15.xml

 

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