JAU awaiting wireless operating license to start community radio

May go on air in the next two to three months

The community radio of Junagadh Agriculture University (JAU), which was to be launched in 2011, will take some more time to go on air as the varsity is still awaiting wireless operating license to be issued by the Union Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.

JAU had commenced preparation to start community radio for farmers in 2011 and the ministry had given the nod for the same.

"Everything is ready from our side. JAU has already sent transmitter and testing report to the ministry. Once we get the requisite license from the concerned ministry, we will start the community radio. We are hoping to go on air in the next two to three months," said Virendra Bhatt, associate extension educationist, AGRISNET studio of JAU.

An official of the Union Ministry of Communication and Information Technology cited an issue regarding Dealer's Position License (DPL) and added that because of this, permission for Wireless Planning Connectivity (WPC) has been delayed.

The official added that things are clear now and the varsity would soon get permission. According to JAU, DPL was issued by Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL) from Delhi but the service and equipments for community radio had been dispatched from Bangalore. At that time, the ministry had sought DPL from Bangalore, which resulted in delay in granting permission to JAU for WPC. The university has spent in excess of Rs 2 million to set up a studio for community radio. Besides, JAU had initiated the process to pay annual spectrum fee of Rs 21,412 last month to the ministry. The university will have to pay this fee every year to continue airing of the radio.

Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has allotted channel number 91.2 for the radio to the university and range will be from 12 to 16 km. The university will broadcast four hours of programmes during the day before augmenting the number of programmes.

Bhatt said, "As it is community radio and particularly for farmers, most of the programmes broadcast would be related to farming. Other informative programmes related to day-to-day life will also be broadcast."