High power transmitters to come up in remote areas of Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 14 (ANI): Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni has announced the setting up of High Power Television Transmitters (HPTs) in the border regions and also Low Power Radio Transmitters (LPTs) in areas which are not presently covered in Kashmir.

Addressing the three-day All India Editors' Conference here on Tuesday, Soni mentioned that one of the highest priorities has been to improve the quality of TV and radio transmission and increasing the broadcast coverage in the State.

"A provision of rupees 1000 million has been made in the current financial year for setting up the HPTs in the border areas of the state and LPTs in uncovered areas of the State.

"I would particularly like to mention in this context setting up of high power TV transmitters in border areas and low power FM transmitters in uncovered areas of Jammu and Kashmir. A provision of Rupees 1000 million has been made for this in current financial year for this purpose," she added.

She said that under this proposed scheme, three HPTs are to be set up at Sirpath, Jasrota Top and Khalsar in Kashmir, Jammu and Leh region respectively.

One LPT for FM radio programmes would come up at Naushera, she added.

Soni also informed that one TV transmitter for Doordarshan-1 (DD-1) and Doordarshan-News (DD-News) would be set up at Rajouri.

LPT FM transmitters at four locations are also being set up, she added.

Soni said a new Doordarshan Studio at Leh is expected to be completed and commissioned during 2010

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has also proposed to open up more towns for private FM channels with special incentives for border areas under the new FM Phase-III policy, which is on the anvil. (ANI)