Darjeeling district admn asks GTA to withdraw circular blocking local broadcasters

SNS, Darjeeling: In a development loaded with political significance for the Hills limping back to normalcy, the Darjeeling district administration is said to have asked the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) to withdraw its circular issued yesterday for the broadcasting of the local channels that were stopped by an administrative order in August last, dubbing the GTA order as stepping into the district administration’s jurisdiction.

The information and cultural affairs department of the GTA had issued a notice, saying that three local channels ~ Darjeeling Television, Himali Channel and Hamro Channel ~ could telecast local news and entertainment in Darjeeling sub-division from 6 January onwards. The district administration during the renewed statehood stir had raided the offices of these channels and shut down two local cable networks based in Darjeeling for not possessing the necessary documents required for operation.

The DM, Mr Puneet Yadav, said they would ask the GTA to withdraw the order. “This is beyond its jurisdiction. Such power is vested only with the DM as per the Cable Television Regulation Act,” he said today. Mr Tamang yesterday had said that they had forwarded the notice to the district magistrate, superintendent of police and principal secretary, GTA.