Kathmandu, Jan. 18: Despite the directives of the Ministry of Information and Communications to transmit only developmental, productive and authentic news items, which can be useful for the general public, many Frequency Modulation (FM) radio stations seem to be violating the rules and regulations related to transmission.
After the government issued the directives in this regard last week, some FM stations such as Sagarmatha, K. A. T. H. and Kathmandu Metro have abided by them.
As per the government’s directives, the FM stations should not collect national and international information on their own for transmission. But they can transmit the news items covered by the government media and other publishing houses.
Bharat Shakya, station programme coordinator of K. A. T. H. said that his FM has totally abided by the directives issued by the government. But Shakya complained that the Kantipur FM has been transmitting the news items, violating the government’s order.
He further said that the transmission of news is necessary for providing information to the audiences but it is not good to violate the contracts made with the government and the existing rules.
Individuals affiliated with FM stations say that FM stations have been allowed to transmit only imformation items related to entertainment and people’s welfare.
Experts have also been raising fingers at some FM stations, whose programmes are heard beyond the stipulated area.
“The government issues directives in the name of FM not to transmit news items but the FM stations are not abiding. This shows that the FM stations are out of the government’s control,” a listeners commented.
Another person, who refuged to be identified, said, “Kantipur FM’s service should be limited to the Kathmandu Valley. But I have listened to its programmes even in Trishuli of Nuwakot district.”
Rakesh Lamichhane, managing director of Classic FM, is of the opinion that FM cannot transmit political news in other countries but such stations are broadcasting such news items in Nepal.
But Gopal Jha of Kantipur FM said that the transmission of Kantipur Diary programme by Kantipur FM cannot be taken otherwise. Jha also said that the news items being transmitted through the station are not questionable in terms of authenticity.
“If FM stations are violating the code of conduct, all the concerned persons should sit down for solutions,” he says.
High level sources at the Ministry of Information and Communications say that the only objective of the measure taken by the government to stop the FM stations from transmitting news items is to guide them. The sources also say that the initiative has been taken after the FM stations transmitted the unauthorised news item regarding the issue of Hrithik Roshan.
“The problem will not be solved only after the government’s issuing of directives and framing up laws. The most important thing is that the concerned department and authorities must move ahead with regular monitoring and supervisions,” says a personnel at the Radio Nepal.
“If the deputed officials do not carry out the task of supervision strictly and the higher level authorities do not pay proper attention to it, it will not be the mistake of the FM stations but the negligence of the government,” he added.