NEW DELHI: A sum of around Rs 36 crore is owed to 271 television channels by the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity. DAVP also owed about Rs 111.7 crore to the print media in 35 states and union territories as on 1 April. DAVP being the nodal advertising department for the government of India releases advertisements on behalf of different ministries/departments.

While releasing this information, minister of state for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore told parliament that this payment is due because ministries and departments of the central and state governments do not clear the bills of DAVP in time. In some cases, he said payments to media organizations are not cleared in time due to delayed availability of funds.

“However, DAVP makes constant efforts to urge client ministries/ departments regarding their pendency”, he said.

DAVP releases payments to newspapers and other media organizations, based on the funds released by the client ministries/departments.