The rollout of conditional access system is likely to be postponed in Mumbai and Kolkata, with the governments of West Bengal and Maharashtra seeking a bigger role in the implementation of the conditional access system from the Centre.
The Centre is likely to accept the demand of the two states, as it does not want to rollout CAS without the approval of the state governments.
While Maharashtra has asked for more time to rollout CAS as the law and order situation in Mumbai is not normal, West Bengal wants the festival season to be over before a stand is taken.
"The state governments have informed us on the developments. We will take up the issue with the minister, who would take a final view on the issue," said Pawan Chopra, secretary, the ministry of information and broadcasting.
West Bengal has also demanded setting up of local committees in the state to monitor the implementation of CAS.
Besides, it has also demanded that the state governments be consulted before drawing up the CAS implementation zones in various metros.
The local level implementation committees is proposed to have representatives from broadcasters, local cable operators, local administration and the police.
Chopra also said the state governments did not specify the date of implementation of CAS suitable for them.
"None of the state governments were against CAS, their problem is with the timeframe for rollout," Chopra said.
The Centre has also asked the state governments to constitute the local level committees and form a view on the implementation of CAS in the two metros.
The Centre has also told the states that, if the state governments wants to include other areas in first phase of rollout of CAS.
The Centre is drawing up plans to amend the Cable Television Act to give the state governments more role in the implementation of CAS.
The state government may be made the implementation agencies and would also be authorised to monitor the rollout.
The registration agencies for cable operators, which are the post offices, may also be changed to a state government agency.