Union Government has rejected two proposals submitted by All India Radio (AIR) and the State Government for setting up Frequency Modulation (FM) Radio Stations in Alappuzha district, which is a hotbed of Union Ministers. At present, Alappuzha doesn't have any FM station either in government or in private sector.

According to the AIR officials in Alappuzha on Monday, they have moved Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) thrice in 2006, 2009 and 2010 respectively for setting up the FM Station at Pathirapally in Alappuzha. However, the Centre had rejected all the three proposals.

The State Government has also approached the Centre for setting up a Community FM Radio for Kuttanad farmers under the much-awaited Kuttanad Package. However, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology refused to allot frequency for setting up the Community FM Radio.

According to the Centre, they had already allotted frequencies to some private firms operating in and around Kuttanad. So they are unable to allot frequency for Kuttanad FM Radio. The Union Ministry has also asked the State Government to approach these private firms for broadcasting the programmes of Kuttanad FM Radio utilizing their frequencies.

However, AIR and the State Government officials said if the three Ministers of Alappuzha at the Centre - A K Antony, Vayalar Ravi and K C Venugopal take necessary steps, the projects can be materialised.

"The FM Radio stations have great influence on the youth and the authorities concerned should take necessary steps for setting up the project," Kannan, a youth said.

At present, the AIR Alappuzha is the highest power transmitting station in Kerala with a capacity of 200 kw. However, now the Alappuzha station only relays the programmes from Thiruvananthapuram and New Delhi.

" AIR has many listeners in Alappuzha, which doesn't have any FM station of its own either in private or in government sector. So an FM especially in government sector will have a good scope and so we have rolled out the project. As per the project, the people can also listen to the programmes of FM station through their mobile phones. However, at present the people are unable to enjoy the programmes of Alappuzha Radio Station through their cell phones as it broadcasts the programmes in medium waves," the AIR sources said.

AIR Alappuzha superintending engineer George told TOI that they submitted the project for the third time in 2010.

" We have adequate infrastructure for setting up an FM Radio Station. However, AIR that owns 33 acres in Alappuzha has not received any positive reply from the Centre till date," he said. As per the AIR's project, the FM station will have 10 kw power and a coverage of 50 km in primary level.

It was in 1971, the AIR Transmitting station was commissioned in Alappuzha with a capacity of 100 kw. In 1999, the capacity was augmented to 200 kw. Though the officials of the State Government requested the Union Ministry for frequencies many times for the Kuttanad FM Radio, they also turned down it.

As per the project, the radio will broadcast programmes like day-to-day information on Kuttanad Package including announcement of new projects, selection of beneficiaries for each project, interaction with agricultural experts, alerts of State and Centre Governments, market prices, weather changes and tips on agriculture.

It will also broadcast entertainment programmes like film songs and chat with film stars. Farmers will also be given a chance to air their programmes.

AIR officials in Alappuzha said they have moved Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) thrice in 2006, 2009 and 2010 respectively for setting up the FM Station at Pathirapally in Alappuzha. However, the Centre had rejected all the three proposals.
 

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