HP to Implement Cable Tv Networks (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2000

Shimla, Dec 3 (UNI) The Himachal government will take stringent action against all the cable operators in the state who do not re-transmit at least two Doordarshan terrestrial channels and one regional language channel of the state in the prime band.

Certain cable operators were not conforming to the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2000.

Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2000 provides that every cable operator shall re-transmit at least two Doordarshan terrestrial channels and one regional language channel of the state in the prime band, in satellite mode on frequencies other than those carrying terrestrial frequencies.

The Act provides that every cable operator in Himachal Pradesh shall make available the signal of Doordarshan Shimla through their cable networks and ensure to adhere to the Programme code, Advertisement code.

The state government is committed to enforce these provisions of the Act, The District Magistrates and Officers of the Information and Public Relations Department are ''Authorised Officers'' in their jurisdiction.

The difficult physiographic conditions and large number of tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh, make it arduous to be connected by traditional means of communication. Television and Radio are the most effective tools for disseminating information for creating awareness amongst the people of the state residing in remote, rural and tribal areas.

As a step in this direction in 1995, the Doordarshan Kendra, Shimla started functioning. Initially its transmission time was just half an hour per day. But now the transmission time has been increased from half an hour to at least three hours per day.

At present the transmission time in Doordarshan Shimla is Three hours per day. 63 per cent population and 42.5 per cent area was being covered by Doordarshan before September 30,2006. The people of other areas were not able to watch the programmes of Doordarshan.

Again this matter was taken up in the successive meetings of SIMCON by the state government. Telecommunication network got a further boost when all 39 Very Low Power Transmission (VLPTs) in the state started transmitting the programmes of Doordarshan Shimla. About 15 lakh more viewers residing in remote areas of state have got access to the programmes of DDK, Shimla. It had resulted in strengthening the connectivity as about 50 lakh people now have access to the programmes of DDK shimla. The programmes of shimla doordarshan are also available on Satellite 3A.

UNI AS DP RL KP1738