NEW DELHI: The All India Radio had to stop the operation of Gyan Vani FM channels due to discontinuation of payments by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), which has now paid a major part of the outstanding dues, the government said today.
In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said that AIR was "constrained" to stop the operation of Gyan Vani FM channels from October 1, 2014, due to discontinuation of payments from April 1, 2013 onwards by IGNOU, accumulating outstanding payment of Rs 21.64 crores.
"However, IGNOU has approached concerned regulatory authorities for renewal of their operating licenses for resuming transmission. IGNOU has paid a major part of outstanding dues ie Rs 17.09 crores," Rathore said.
Resumption of services by AIR depends upon finalisation of mutually agreed terms and conditions, he said.
Rathore also said that IGNOU used to uplink its channels on C-Band which was then taken by DD (Doordarshan) on the Freedish DTH of the public broadcaster.
"Currently IGNOU does not have the Wireless Planning Coordination (WPC) clearance from the Ministry of Communications and IT. Hence, they are unable to uplink on C- Band. Therefore, DD is not in a position to downlink these channels on Freedish DTH and these channels are no longer available on DD Freedish DTH," he added.