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Nepal's FM station closes down
A radio station in Nepal closed down after Govt refused to allow it to buy an additional transmitter.
A popular Nepal FM radio station has closed down after the Government refused to allow it to buy an additional transmitter to replace a damaged one.
Nepal FM run by Rainbow FM Pvt Ltd discontinued operations on Wednesday after its transmitter was damaged and the government did not permit it to buy a new one, according to Bishnuhari Dhakal, director of the FM.
The 24-hour FM station was forced to shut down its service since the government did not allow it to import an additional transmitter despite repeated requests, he said.
The station would resume broadcasting as soon as the government allows it to import the equipment, he added.
Nepal FM was issued a closure ultimatum by the government last year.
The Government is also proposing to introduce 30 to 40 times license fees for FM stations to force their closure, according to sources in the Federation of Nepalese Journalists.
The FNJ is planning to observe February 1 as Black Day and hold protests to oppose the government's crackdown on the media.
