Mumbai: News broadcasters have approached the ministry of information and broadcasting to increase the number of years they get security clearance for the channels they run. This was revealed by I&B minister Manish Tewari today in the Lok Sabha in reply to a question, says a Press Trust of India report.

Current regulations put the security clearance given to a company and its directors validity period at three years, and the News Broadcasters Association has made a representation to the I&B ministry to extend it as it makes things difficult for them, disclosed Tewari.

Adding to the news broadcasters woes is the Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) decision that a media company should apply for fresh clearances for a new channel even if the firm has got security permissions earlier. Permissions for uplinking and downlinking of channels are issued for 10 years, and hence this has created an anomalous situation.