Lok Sabha Question No. 1750 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-26
Subject: Telecasting in Border Areas
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: NIHAL CHAND CHAUHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1750 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2017)

## TELECASTING IN BORDER AREAS

## 1750. SHRI NIHAL CHAND:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  effective  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  prevent  the  range  of  signal coming from across the border;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  is  contemplating  to  enhance  the  range  of  towers installed along the border and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)   whether the Government has fixed any distance for the frequency of radio and television signals and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  the  steps  taken by the Government for the proper implementation of schemes for the people living in the villages along the border?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## {COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)}

(a) to (d) Prasar Bharati has informed that there is no mechanism as such to stop / prevent  broadcast  signals  coming  from  across  the  border.  Medium  wave/Short wave broadcasts are bound by the guidelines / regulations issued by International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The power of MW Transmitters and their locations are  decided  in  accordance  with  LF/MF  plan  suggested  by  ITU.  All  India  Radio adheres to the guidelines and norms issued by ITU and it is expected that all our neighbouring countries follow the same in true spirit.  As far as SW broadcast is concerned, there are no such regulations. Many countries are using SW broadcast to reach out to far destinations across border and continents.

All India Radio has its transmitters located in bordering areas to counter the propaganda as well as to safeguard our citizens from misleading broadcast.  The list of AIR Transmitters located in bordering areas is given in Annexure - I

Strengthening  of  AIR  services  along  the  border  areas  is  a  continuous process.  AIR  has  already  provided  various  capacity  transmitters  at  strategic locations for providing coverage to border areas.   Out of these transmitters, the installed capacity of High Power MW transmitters (HPTs) is capable of  providing coverage across the borders. For further strengthening of AIR services along the border  areas,  schemes  for  setting  up  of  31  new  FM  transmitters  have  been approved for implementation.  Details are given in Annexure-II.

Doordarshan  has  been  assigning  priority  to  strengthen/expansion  of  TV coverage in border areas of the country to counter signal coming from across the border. Special packages for expansion and improvement of Doordarshan services in  the  border  areas  have been formulated from time to time. At present, 242 TV transmitters of varying power are functioning in border districts of the country. All the  areas  uncovered by terrestrial transmission (including those in border areas) along with rest of the country, have been provided with multi-channel TV coverage through Doordarshan's free to air DTH service, ' DD Free Dish'. DTH signals can be received anywhere in the country including border areas with the help of small sized dish receive units.

It is mentioned that the location of transmitters, their frequency of operation and power determine the distance of coverage. It is the constant endeavor of the Govt. to implement the schemes for the people living near the border alongwith the whole country.

- ******

## ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1750 FOR ANSWER ON 26.07.2017

## List of Existing Transmitters (MW+FM) providing coverage to the Border areas

| SL. NO. OF LOCATION S   | LOCATION             | STATE                           | SL. NO. OF TR.   | EXISTING TR.                              | NAME OF BORDER COVER                                              |
|-------------------------|----------------------|---------------------------------|------------------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.                      | ITANAGAR             | ARUNACHAL PRADESH               | 1.               | 200 KW MW (HPT)*                          | INDO- CHINA/TIBET BORDER INDO- BHUTAN BORDER                      |
| 2.                      | PASSIGHAT            | ARUNACHAL PRADESH               | 2.               | 100 KW MW (HPT)*                          | INDO-CHINA/TIBET BORDER                                           |
| 3.                      | TAWANG               | ARUNACHAL PRADESH               | 3.               | 20 KW MW*                                 | INDO- CHINA/TIBET BORDER INDO- BHUTAN BORDER                      |
| 4.                      | DHUBRI               | ASSAM                           | 4.               | 6 KW FM                                   | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                                            |
| 5.                      | DIBRUGARH            | ASSAM                           | 5.               | 300 KW MW (HPT)*                          | INDO- MYANMAR BORDER                                              |
| 6.                      | GUWAHATI             | ASSAM                           | 6.               | 100 KW MW (HPT)                           | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER INDO- BHUTAN BORDER                        |
| 7.                      | KOKRAJHAR            | ASSAM                           | 7.               | 20 KW MW                                  | INDO- BHUTAN BORDER                                               |
| 8.                      | SILCHAR              | ASSAM                           | 8.               | 20 KW MW                                  | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                                            |
| 9.                      | DHARBHANGA           | BIHAR                           | 9.               | 20 KW MW                                  | INDO- NEPAL BORDER                                                |
| 10.                     | PATNA                | BIHAR                           | 10.              | 100 KW MW (HPT)*                          | INDO- NEPAL BORDER                                                |
| 11.                     | AHMEDABAD            | GUJARAT                         | 11.              | 200 KW MW (HPT)*                          | INDO-PAK BORDER                                                   |
| 12.                     | BHUJ                 | GUJARAT                         | 12.              | 20 KW MW                                  | INDO-PAK BORDER                                                   |
| 13.                     | RAJKOT               | GUJARAT                         | 13. 14.          | 5 kW FM 300 KW MW (HPT)*                  | INDO-PAK BORDER INDO-PAK BORDER                                   |
| 14.                     | DHARMSHALA           | HIMACHAL PRADESH                | 15. 16.          | 1000 KW MW(HPT)* 10 KW FM                 | INDO-PAK BORDER INDO- CHINA/TIBET BORDER                          |
| 15.                     | BHADHARWA            | JAMMU & KASHMIR                 | 17.              | 6 kW FM                                   | INDO-PAK BORDER                                                   |
| 16.                     | DISKIT               | JAMMU & KASHMIR                 | 18.              | 1 KW MW                                   | INDO-PAK BORDER                                                   |
| 17.                     | DRASS                | JAMMU & KASHMIR                 | 19.              | 1 KW MW                                   | INDO-PAK BORDER INDO-PAK BORDER                                   |
| 18.                     | JAMMU                | JAMMU & KASHMIR                 | 20. 21. 22. 23.  | 100W FM 300 KW MW (HPT)* 10 KW FM 6 KW FM | INDO-PAK BORDER INDO-PAK BORDER INDO-PAK BORDER                   |
| 19.                     | KARGIL               | JAMMU & KASHMIR                 | 24. 25.          | 200 KW MW (HPT) 1 KW MW                   | INDO-PAK BORDER INDO-PAK BORDER INDO-PAK BORDER                   |
| 20.                     | KATHUA               | JAMMU & KASHMIR                 | 26. 27.          | 100W FM 10 KW FM                          | INDO-PAK BORDER                                                   |
| 21. 22.                 | KHALTSI KUPWARA      | JAMMU & KASHMIR JAMMU & KASHMIR | 28. 29.          | 1 KW MW 20 KW MW                          | INDO-PAK BORDER INDO-PAK BORDER                                   |
| 23.                     | LEH                  | JAMMU & KASHMIR                 | 30.              | 20 KW MW                                  | INDO-PAK BORDER INDO- CHINA/TIBET BORDER                          |
| 25.                     | NYOMA                | JAMMU & KASHMIR                 | 32.              | 1 KW MW                                   | INDO-PAK BORDER BORDER                                            |
| 24.                     | NAUSHERA             | JAMMU & KASHMIR                 | 31.              | 20 KW MW                                  | INDO- CHINA/TIBET                                                 |
| 26.                     | PADUM                | JAMMU & KASHMIR                 | 33.              | 1 KW MW                                   | INDO-PAK BORDER                                                   |
|                         | POONCH               | JAMMU & KASHMIR                 | 34. 35.          | 100W FM 6 KW FM                           | INDO-PAK BORDER INDO-PAK BORDER                                   |
| 27. 28.                 | RAJOURI              | JAMMU & KASHMIR                 | 36.              | 10 KW FM                                  | INDO-PAK BORDER                                                   |
| 29.                     | SRINAGAR             | JAMMU & KASHMIR                 |                  | 300 KW MW (HPT)                           | INDO-PAK BORDER INDO-PAK BORDER                                   |
|                         |                      |                                 | 37. 38. 39.      | 10 KW MW 10 KW FM (VB)                    | INDO-PAK BORDER                                                   |
| 30.                     | TIESURU              | JAMMU & KASHMIR                 | 40. 41. 42.      | 10 KW FM 1 KW MW 100W FM                  | INDO-PAK BORDER INDO-PAK BORDER INDO-PAK BORDER                   |
| 31. 32.                 | CHURACHANDPUR IMPHAL | MANIPUR MANIPUR                 | 43. 44. 45.      | 6 KW FM 300 KW MW (HPT) 10 KW FM          | INDO- MYANMAR BORDER INDO- MYANMAR BORDER INDO- MYANMAR BORDER    |
| 33. 34.                 | JOWAI SHILLONG       | MEGHALAYA MEGHALAYA             | 46. 47.          | 6 KW FM 100 KW MW (HPT)                   | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                     |
|                         | TURA                 | MEGHALAYA                       | 48.              | 10 KW FM 20 KW MW                         | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                                            |
| 35. 36.                 | AIZAWL               | MIZORAM                         | 49.              | 20 KW MW                                  | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                                            |
|                         |                      |                                 | 50.              |                                           | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER INDO- MYANMAR BORDER                       |
| 37.                     | LUNGLEI              | MIZORAM                         | 51. 52.          | 6 KW FM 6 KW FM                           | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER INDO- BHUTAN BORDER |
| 38.                     | SAIHA                | MIZORAM                         | 53.              | 1 KW MW                                   | INDO- MYANMAR BORDER                                              |

|   39. | MON           | NAGALAND      | 54.     | 1 KW MW                          | INDO- MYANMAR BORDER                                           |
|-------|---------------|---------------|---------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
|    40 | TUENSANG      | NAGALAND      | 55.     | 1 KW MW                          | INDO- MYANMAR BORDER                                           |
|    41 | FAZILKA       | PUNJAB        | 56.     | 20 KW FM                         | INDO-PAK BORDER                                                |
|    42 | JALLANDHAR    | PUNJAB        | 57. 58. | 300 KW MW (HPT)* 200 KW MW (HPT) | INDO-PAK BORDER INDO-PAK BORDER                                |
|    43 | BARMER        | RAJASTHAN     | 59.     | 20 KW MW*                        | INDO-PAK BORDER                                                |
|    44 | BIKANER       | RAJASTHAN     | 60.     | 20 KW MW*                        | INDO-PAK BORDER                                                |
|    45 | JAISALMER     | RAJASTHAN     | 62.     | 10 KW FM                         | INDO-PAK BORDER                                                |
|    46 | JODHPUR       | RAJASTHAN     | 63.     | 300 KW MW (HPT)                  | INDO-PAK BORDER                                                |
|    47 | SURATGARH     | RAJASTHAN     | 64.     | 300 KW MW (HPT)*                 | INDO-PAK BORDER                                                |
|    48 | GANGTOK       | SIKKIM        | 65.     | 20 KW MW                         | INDO-NEPAL BORDER INDO- BHUTAN BORDER INDO- CHINA/TIBET BORDER |
|    48 | GANGTOK       | SIKKIM        | 66.     | 10 KW FM                         | INDO-NEPAL BORDER INDO- BHUTAN BORDER INDO- CHINA/TIBET BORDER |
|    49 | CHENNAI       | TAMILNADU     | 67.     | 200 KW MW (HPT)*                 | INDO- SRILANKA BORDER                                          |
|    50 | TUTICORIN     | TAMILNADU     | 68.     | 200 KW MW (HPT)                  | INDO- SRILANKA BORDER                                          |
|    50 | TUTICORIN     | TAMILNADU     | 69.     | 1 kW FM                          | INDO- SRILANKA BORDER                                          |
|    51 | AGARTALA      | TRIPURA       | 70.     | 20 KW MW                         | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                                         |
|    51 | AGARTALA      | TRIPURA       | 71.     | 10 KW FM                         | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                                         |
|    52 | BELONIA       | TRIPURA       | 72.     | 6 KW FM                          | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                                         |
|    53 | KAILASHAHAR   | TRIPURA       | 73.     | 6 KW FM                          | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                                         |
|    54 | GORAKHPUR     | UTTAR PRADESH | 74.     | 100 KW MW (HPT)                  | INDO-NEPAL BORDER                                              |
|    54 | GORAKHPUR     | UTTAR PRADESH | 75.     | 10 KW FM                         | INDO-NEPAL BORDER                                              |
|    55 | LAKHEEMPUR    | UTTAR PRADESH | 76.     | 10 KW FM                         | INDO-NEPAL BORDER                                              |
|    56 | KHERI LUCKNOW | UTTAR PRADESH | 77.     | 300 KW MW (HPT)                  | INDO-NEPAL BORDER                                              |
|    57 | RAMPUR        | UTTAR PRADESH | 78.     | 20 KW MW                         | INDO-NEPAL BORDER                                              |
|    58 | PITHORAGARH   | UTTARAKHAND   | 79.     | 1 KW MW                          | INDO-NEPAL BORDER                                              |
|    59 | BALURGHAT     | WEST BENGAL   | 80.     | 10 KW FM                         | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                                         |
|    60 | KOLKATA       | WEST BENGAL   | 81.     | 1000 KW MW (HPT)*                | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                                         |
|    60 | KOLKATA       | WEST BENGAL   | 82.     | 200 KW MW (HPT)*                 | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                                         |
|    60 | KOLKATA       | WEST BENGAL   | 83.     | 100 KW MW (HPT)*                 | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                                         |
|    60 | KOLKATA       | WEST BENGAL   | 84.     | 20 KW MW                         | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                                         |
|    61 | KURSEONG      | WEST BENGAL   | 85.     | 10 KW FM                         | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER INDO- BHUTAN BORDER INDO- NEPAL BORDER  |
|    61 | KURSEONG      | WEST BENGAL   | 86.     | 5 KW FM                          | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER INDO- BHUTAN BORDER INDO- NEPAL BORDER  |
|    62 | MURSHIDABAD   | WEST BENGAL   | 87.     | 6 KW FM                          | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                                         |
|    63 | SILLIGURI     | WEST BENGAL   | 88.     | 200 KW MW (HPT)*                 | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER INDO- BHUTAN BORDER INDO- NEPAL BORDER  |
|    63 | SILLIGURI     | WEST BENGAL   | 89.     | 10 KW FM                         | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER INDO- BHUTAN BORDER INDO- NEPAL BORDER  |

## Annexure-II

## ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1750 FOR ANSWER ON 26.07.2017

## List of  31  FM   Transmitters  for setting up  along  the  border  areas

| S. No.   | Place                            | STATE                            | Power of the proposed Transmitters                          | NAME OF BORDER COVER                     |
|----------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| 1.       | Dhubri                           | Assam                            | 10 kW FM (as a replacement of Existing 6 kW FM transmitter) | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                   |
| 2.       | Belonia                          | Tripura                          | 10 kW FM (as a replacement of existing 6 kW FM transmitter) | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                   |
| 3.       | Green Ridge (Uri Sector)         | JAMMU & KASHMIR                  | 10 kW FM                                                    | INDO-PAK BORDER                          |
| 4.       | Himbotingla (Kargil)             | JAMMU & KASHMIR                  | 10 kW FM                                                    | INDO-PAK BORDER                          |
| 5.       | Patnitop (Udhampur)              | JAMMU & KASHMIR                  | 10 kW FM                                                    | INDO-PAK BORDER                          |
| 6.       | Naushera                         | JAMMU & KASHMIR                  | 10 kW FM                                                    | INDO-PAK BORDER                          |
| 7.       | Amritsar                         | PUNJAB                           | 20 kW FM                                                    | INDO-PAK BORDER                          |
| 8.       | Chauntan hill                    | RAJASTHAN                        | 20 kW FM                                                    | INDO-PAK BORDER                          |
| 9.       | Darjeeling                       | WEST BENGAL                      | 10 kW FM                                                    | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER INDO-NEPAL BORDER |
| 10.      | Krishnanagar                     | WEST BENGAL                      | 10 kW FM                                                    | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                   |
| 11.      | Coochbehar                       | WEST BENGAL                      | 10 kW FM                                                    | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                   |
| 12.      | Anini/Roing                      | ARUNACHAL PRADESH                | 1 kW FM                                                     | INDO-CHINA/TIBET BORDER                  |
| 13.      | Changlang                        | ARUNACHAL PRADESH                | 1 kW FM                                                     | INDO-MYANMAR BORDER                      |
| 14.      | Khonsa                           | ARUNACHAL PRADESH                | 1 kW FM                                                     | INDO-MYANMAR BORDER                      |
| 15.      | Karim ganj                       | ASSAM                            | 1 kW FM                                                     | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                   |
| 16.      | Ukhrul                           | MANIPUR                          | 1 kW FM                                                     | INDO-MYANMAR BORDER                      |
| 17.      | Cherapunjee                      | MEGHALAYA                        | 1 kW FM                                                     | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                   |
| 18.      | Tuipang                          | MIZORAM                          | 1 kW FM                                                     | INDO-MYANMAR BORDER                      |
| 19.      | Champhai                         | MIZORAM                          | 1 kW FM                                                     | INDO-MYANMAR BORDER                      |
| 20.      | Phek                             | NAGALAND                         | 1 kW FM                                                     | INDO-MYANMAR BORDER                      |
| 21.      | Nutan bazar                      | TRIPURA                          | 1 kW FM                                                     | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                   |
| 22.      | Champawat                        | UTTARAKHAND                      | 1 kW FM                                                     | INDO-NEPAL BORDER                        |
| 23.      | Silchar                          | ASSAM                            | 5 kW FM                                                     | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                   |
| 24.      | Tura                             | MEGHALAYA                        | 5 kW FM                                                     | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                   |
| 25.      | Longtherai                       | TRIPURA                          | 5 kW FM                                                     | INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER                   |
| 26-31    | 6 locations in Indo-Nepal Border | 6 locations in Indo-Nepal Border | 10 kW FM                                                    | INDO-NEPAL BORDER                        |