The Information and Public Relations Department (IPRD) of the State Government is seeking the support of All India Radio (AIR) for setting up Frequency Modulation (FM) stations in Godda, Deoghar, and Santhal Pargana.
The Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting gave the information related to the proposed FMs in the Rajya Sabha recently in reply to a question raised by MP Parimal Nathwani.
Rathore stated that as per the information provided by Prasar Bharati the Government received total 87 proposals for setting up new FM radio stations in different States of the country, of which three proposals were received from Jharkhand to set up FM radio stations at Deoghar, Godda and, Santhal Pargana.
“A scheme of setting up 100 Watt FM transmitter at Godda was approved under 12th Five Year Plan, while FM radio station is operational at Deoghar, but there is no scheme approved for setting up FM transmitter at Santhal Pargana,” mentioned the statement of Rathore.
Confirming the present status of the plan at the State-level, IPRD Deputy Director Anand said, “We are facilitating the plan. The State wing of All India Radio may likely begin the ground work for the proposed stations within a week.”
Meanwhile, IPRD Director AK Pandey said that a budget had been sanctioned by the Government for the set up. “We are looking forward to work for the implementation of the plan within the next two or three months. Also, we are in talks with Ranchi University,” he added.
However, the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Ranchi University M Raziuddin denied having any communication in this regard. “We have framed a committee for starting our own community radio ‘Kanchi’. No discussions on central government’s FM stations have been held,” he said.