In a bid to disseminate and strengthen information along border areas in Jammu & Kashmir, the Centre on Thursday(08-07-10) cleared a Rs 100-crore proposal to broaden its radio and television coverage. The move -- of immense strategic importance -- is expected to counter Pakistan's sustained misinformation campaign in this sensitive area.

               The decision comes at a time when the Army has been called in to conduct flag marches in Srinagar.

               The proposal -- cleared by the I&B ministry's expenditure finance committee on Thursday -- is expected to bolster the existing infrastructure with the addition of three high power transmitters (HPT) for both TV and radio. These include one each in Srinagar, Leh and Jammu region. The project also includes reinforcing existing stations like the addition of a 10-kW FM high power transmitter at the existing TV site at Naushera, an HPT at the AIR site at Rajouri and low power 100 watt FM transmitters at Kargil, Drass, Tiesuru and Padum. The project aims to ensure coverage in the higher reaches of the Valley and is expected to be completed by 2012.

               It is a two-pronged scheme, and envisages a revamp of the content besides technological upgrade. The I&B ministry has already set the ball rolling for a makeover of Doordarshan's Kashir channel. The emphasis is on local content and ramping up its human resources.

             "The aim is to strengthen coverage and ensure a stronger signal along the border. We are also looking at changing the content and capacity building. There is an urgent need to build viewership along the border areas," a source said.

              Sources said that many of the sites are in remote areas characterized by difficult terrain and additional forces -- drawn from the Army, J&K police and paramilitary personnel -- will have to be deployed to safeguard both human resources and hardware.

             Similarly, the ministry is also focusing on the north-east. I&B minister Ambika Soni will visit the region next week to review DD and AIR networks there.

            "There are plans to bridge the information gap in the north-east and a major revamp on the content is in the offing," a source said.