Himalayan News Service

Banke, March 23:

Around a dozen FM stations are gearing to start transmission soon in the mid and far western regions of the country after the Ministry of Information and Technology gave transmission permission to licensed FM radios.

For this, the community radio help centre of the Group of Nepal Environment Journalists, concluded a one-week training in Kathmandu. Programme producer of Radio Bheri-Surkhet Prem Prakash Lamicchane said, "We will be doing test transmission within two weeks." Kanti Adhikary of Bulbule communication centre said they too would begin test transmission in two months.

Rural Karnali will be able to tune in to FM in two weeks via Radio Jumla-Khalanga. "The studio is ready. We just have to fix some simple equipment. If there are no more bandhs, the people of Karnali will be able to listen to their voices in a fortnight," said Govinda Mahat of the station.

Saipal FM has also got permission for transmission in rural Bajhang. Kasha Rokka of the station said, "We have planned to launch the FM on the occasion of New Year by transmitting for five hours. Station Manager Tara Khanal of Radio Bheri said, "We will start transmission in another two months."The regional office of Nepal Press Institute of Nepalgunj is also setting up its FM station at Nepalgunj. Yam Bahadur Dura, regional manager of the institute, said the studio would be complete by the second week of Baisakh.

The Backward Society Education (BASE) will also start the Ghodaghadi FM in Dhangadhi. BASE vice-chairman Birbal Chaudhary said, "Till the time of a full fledged transmission, we are buying time from the regional transmission of Radio Nepal and will be transmitting programmes in the Tharu language. Our target is the Kamaiyas."Currently, only one community radio — Swargadwari radio — is on air in Dang. Radio Tulsipur is planning its launch in the area.

Chairman of the Federation of Nepalese Journalist, Banke, Neeraj Gautam said, "Though dozens of FM stations are opening, it will not affect the print media. Instead, it will a help. People will be more interested to read papers after listening to news on radio." Bageshwori FM, the sole commercial FM in mid and far western zone, will also start is transmission in Nepalgunj within few months, said Shiva Dotel of the station.