NEW DELHI: The entire state of Chhattisgarh, including its rural and naxal-affected areas, has been provided with multichannel TV coverage through Doordarshan’s free to air DTH service DD FreeDish while 13 AIR stations are operating in Chhattisgarh including eight of 100 W FM relay transmitters for localised coverage.

Answering a question in the Parliament about coverage by Prasar Bharati in naxalite-affected areas, minister of state for information and broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said that the signals of Direct to Home (DTH) service can be received with a small-sized dish receiving unit.

A total of 29 terrestrial TV transmitters of varying power are functioning in Chhattisgarh, he added.

As far as AIR was concerned, he added that some areas of Dantewada, Bijapur and Koriya districts were still uncovered by AIR’s terrestrial broadcast. High Power Medium Wave transmitter from AIR Nagpur is also providing AIR service in Chhattisgarh state.

Most of the populated parts of Chhattisgarh are covered with AIR MW coverage and by its FM coverage also at reasonably good numbers of places.

In addition, 31 channels of All India Radio are available on DD FreeDish throughout the country.

Thirteen popular channels of All-India Radio can also be received through internet by browsing AIR’s website and by downloading suitable apps on iOS/ Android/ Windows based mobile phones.

AIR’s scheme for replacement of existing outlived 100 kW MW transmitter at Jagdalpur by new 100 kW MW transmitter has already been approved under special scheme. A 5 kW FM transmitter under continuing scheme of 12th Plan has been approved for testing at Ambikapur