New Delhi: Around 95% of the Plan expenditure of Prasar Bharati currently involves technical equipment and the endeavour is to provide momentum to technical infrastructure projects, Information and Broadcasting Ministry Arun Jaitley said today.

Answering a question in Parliament about Revised Estimates (REs), he said these are prepared to optimize utilization of allocated funds according to the progress of various projects and time schedule of supply of equipment/works.

Out of the REs during the last three years, reduction in RE during 2013-14 with reference to Budget Estimate (BE) of that year was marginal.

During 2014-15, reduction in RE was largely due to cancellation of tenders received on e-procurement portal, Cancellation of tenders on techno-commercial evaluation, delay in supply of equipment etc.

During the year 2015-16, RE was reduced due to various reasons such as time taken regarding decision on clustering & de-clustering of digital transmitters, non participation of bidders in tendering process etc. 

The alternatives available for the technical/technology choices and the plan of action, with the chosen technology, require wide consultations which consume time and, to prevent sub-optimal choices, expenditure is postponed. This, at times, leads to reduction in plan expenditure at RE stage. This also was a contributing factor in the last two years. 

Doordarshan follows rules & procedures based on the guidelines given in the Directorate General of Supplies & Disposals (DGS&D) Manual, GFR 2005 and Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) guidelines for procurement of Capital equipment/Turnkey projects on Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning (SITC) basis etc.

Tenders are invited through e-procurement mode, as per the mandate of Ministry of Finance, and according to the Standard Bidding Document prescribed by the Prasar Bharati. Ministry/Prasar Bharati have no plans to follow the policy (ies) of private broadcasters in so far as procurement of equipment/finalization of tenders is concerned.