It was a thoughtful gesture by Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee when he announced the shifting of Kashir channel from Delhi to Srinagar. Spurred by media advisor Sudheendra Kulkarni, after a Power Point presentation on the channel by Prasar Bharati Corporation officials on April 17, a decision was taken to move the operations of the channel to Srinagar.The PMO, it is now learnt, is examining the decision.Sources say the Home Ministry has cautioned against the move. It is learnt that intelligence reports have pointed out that programmes meant for the Valley were not being telecast on prime time — for no particular reason. Filmmakers, producers from the Valley have also urged the Government against the move.But following the PM’s announcement — in an order dated April 21 — DD director-general S.Y. Quraishi has, in an internal note, said the Kashir Channel will function from Doordarshan Kendra Srinagar with effect from May 1, as announced by Vajpayee. All files relating to approved/rejected proposals received at the headquarters will be transferred to Srinagar by May-end. Quraishi says: ‘‘The PMO is examining the proposal to shift the channel and any modifications will have to come from his office.’’Interestingly, the channel, now in its third year, was set up with the purpose of countering propaganda from across the border. It was for this reason that the operations were handed over to Delhi.The I & B Ministry had only recently taken the decision to make it a 24-hour channel from August 15. Of the Rs 379.63 crore allocated for the channel, Rs 256 crore have been spent, says a Ministry note. A high-power transmitter has been set up to improve transmission of programmes like Kashmir Now, Sarhad Ke Do Rukh, PTV Sach Kya Hai and Pukhta Saboot. But topography here is such that transmitters from across the border have a better chance of beaming their programmes. While PTV is allowed in India, Indian channels are not welcome in Pakistan.
