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Title : Need to take steps to augment revenue earnings of Doordarshan Kendra, Kolkata.
SHRI SUNIL KHAN (DURGAPUR): Doordarshan Kolkata is allotting time slots to new programmes at much lower price avoiding the bidding process. The slots that fetches Rs. 60,000.00 or more are being allotted at Rs. 15,000.00 to the chosen few. Even highest revenue earning slots are allotted to selective people at as allow as Rs. 10,000.00. This will further increase the loss of revenue. No positive action has been taken against any of the defaulters. No legal action has been initiated to realize payment from default producers. This is another area of loss of revenue. For example the time slot wise breakdown will give you a clear picture about the cause of loss of the Kendra for about Rs. 13 crores.
Time slot 2.30-2.55 P.M. rate/30 minute (existing) slot is vacant since 14.7.2004. the total loss of revenue is at Rs. 1,72,72,500.00. It is happening since 16.1.2003 but no positive action has been taken to improve the quality of the programmes and as such private satellite channels are gaining advantage both due to quality and dearth of programmes at Doordarshan. I urge upon the Union Government to stop the menace of loss of revenue due to vacant slots, default producers, allotment of slots at cheaper rates to selected few so that Kolkata Doordarshan can once again get back the glory of highest revenue earning Kendra amongst all Kendras of Doordarshan.