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Panel pulls up I&B Ministry

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MARCH 11. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology has pulled up the Information and Broadcasting Ministry for the delay in implementing a number of projects that had been planned for Prasar Bharati in 2001-2002, and in filling up the long-pending vacancies in the Board.

Also, in view of complaints about signal quality of All India Radio along the western border, the Committee has advocated installation of high and low power transmitters to increase the quality of radio and television signals along the international border which is exposed to outside propaganda.

In its 43rd report on action taken by the Government on earlier recommendations of the Committee, the panel expressed concern that only 124 of the 161 projects — targeted for completion in 2001-2002 — had been set up. Unconvinced by the justification offered by the Ministry for the delay, the Committee — which tabled its report in Parliament today — noted that ``such slippages under the Plan schemes are only indicative of the lack of seriousness on the part of the implementing authorities, and absence of proper and effective monitoring mechanisms''.

Also, the Committee has advised the Ministry to adopt a realistic approach while evolving Plan strategies so that the gap between targeted projects and their completion is minimised/avoided and funds provided for Plan schemes are fully utilised.

The Committee — headed by the CPI (M) leader, Somnath Chatterjee — has also taken exception to the indifferent explanation provided by the Ministry for the delay in providing software to Kashir channel as part of the special package for Jammu & Kashmir. It has asked the Ministry to fix responsibility for the delay in implementing this scheme.

As for the vacancies in the Prasar Bharati Board, the Committee has taken a serious view of the fact that despite its recommendations, six vacancies had not been filled till date.

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