Lok Sabha Question No. 224 (STARRED), answered on 2018-08-02
Subject: Installation of Digital Terrestrial Transmitter
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 224 ( TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2018)

## INSTALLATION OF DIGITAL TERRESTRIAL TRANSMITTER

## *224. SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT

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

- (a) whether Doordarshan is the channel through which the citizens of the country  get  the  information  on  policies  and  programmes  of  the Government and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  transmission  centre  at Kankavali  in  Sindhudrug  district  of  Maharashtra  is  not  being  able  to provide Doordarshan service to the entire  area of the district with full capacity as the present UHV mode terrestrial transmitter is 24 years old which goes out of order frequently;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

- (d)  whether the Government has received requests/representations from the  inhabitants  and  Members  of  Parliament  (MPs)  for  installation  of digital  terrestrial    transmitter  at  Kankavali,  increasing  the  capacity  of the  transmission  centre  from  the  existing  500  watts  to  9  KW  and enhancing  the  height  of  the  transmitter  tower  to  300  meters  from existing 100 meters; and
- (e) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  action  taken  by  the  Government thereon?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

{COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)}

- (a) to (e):   A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 224 FOR ANSWER ON 02.08.2018

(a):- Doordarshan as a Public Service Broadcaster   regularly telecasts programmes through its network highlighting various schemes and initiatives of the Government for dissemination of information including programmes on Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Swachhatha Abhiyan, Digital India,  Pradhan Mantri Ujwala Yojana,    Mudra Yojana, Agriculture & Rural Development Programs etc. from time to time.

(b)  to  (c)  :-  Prasar  Bharati  has  informed  that  Sindhudurg  district  in  Maharashtra  is fully  covered  by  Doordarshan's    free  to  air  DTH  service  'DD  Free  Dish'  which provides all 23 channels of Doordarshan apart from other private channels to people free of cost. In addition, most parts of the district are getting coverage in terrestrial mode by the TV transmitter functioning at Kankavali in the district and coverage from high power transmitters functioning at Panaji in Goa.

Transmitter  at  Kankavali  has  been  replaced  by  500  Watt  (UHF)  transmitter  in February, 2015 and is working satisfactorily.

(d)  to  (e)  :-    A  letter  dated  06.02.2018  has  been  received  by  Prasar  Bharati  from Hon'ble Member of Parliament Shri Vinayak Raut, (LS) with the following requests

1.  Installation of Digital Terrestrial Transmitter at Kanakavali
2.  Increasing the capacity of the transmission centre from existing 500  watts to 9KW
3.  Increase the height of transmitter tower to 300 meter from existing 100 meter

In  this  regard,  Prasar  Bharati  has  informed  that  as  part  of  11th  and  12th  Plan Schemes for digitalization of transmitters, Government of India has approved setting up of Digital Terrestrial TV Transmitters (DTTs) at 63 locations. Complete digitalization  of  terrestrial  network  is  dependent  upon  sanction  of  the  scheme  & availability  of  funds  in  future  plan.    There  is  no  approved  scheme  to  set  up  digital transmitter  or  to  increase  the  power  of  Transmitter  or  height  of  TV  Tower  at Kankavali, District Sindhudurg (Maharashtra). Doordarshan is operating its free to air DTH service 'DD free Dish'. This is free to air platform and the viewers do not have to  pay  monthly  subscription  fee  as  in  the  case  of  Cable  TV  and  Pay  DTH.  DTH signals can be received anywhere in the country including Kankavali in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra with the help of a small sized dish receive units. A 24X7 'DD Sahyadri' channel is available at DTH platform.