(a) the efforts made by the Government to extend good quality T. V.
coverage to all the tribal and inaccessible areas of the country;
(b) the areas still left out of T. V. coverage;
(c) whether the quality of the T. V. telecast is quite poor in several areas of
the country; and
(d) if so, the number of representations received by the Government from the
public representatives so far in this regard and the action taken thereon?
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SMT. SUSHMA SWARAJ)
(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF
THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 266 REGARDING
POOR QUALITY OF TELECAST IN TRIBAL AREAS FOR
ANSWER ON 1.8.2002.
(a) & (b): At present, 1321 TV transmitters of Doordarshan are functioning
in various parts of the country, including 417 transmitters in tribal sub
plan districts and remote areas. TV coverage is estimated to be
available to about 89.7% population of the country spread over about
77.7% of its area. In satellite mode , programmes are available
throughout the country and can be received with the help of
appropriate dish antenna system or through cable network. To further
expand terrestrial coverage, 135 TV transmitter projects are under
implementation. With the commissioning of these transmitters,
population-wise coverage is expected to increase to about 91.3% and
area-wise coverage to about 80%. Besides, additional transmitters
are envisaged to be set up during the 10th Plan and alternative
technology options are also proposed to be adopted to cover hitherto
uncovered areas. A cable head end scheme, for expansion of TV
coverage in North East States including Sikkim, is under
implementation.
(c) & (d): The technical quality of Doordarshan telecasts is satisfactory
Representations from public representatives are received from time
to time about the quality of telecast. It is Doordarshan`s constant
endeavour to promptly take necessary corrective action on these
representations.