New Delhi: Government on July 28 asserted there was no move to impose set-top boxes on cable television users, but asked the Opposition not to stall efforts to bring the Conditional Access System (CAS).

"Set-top boxes are not being imposed," Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said during Question Hour in Rajya Sabha.

There was no problem "if people are happy with free-to-air channels", he said.

Prasad said though the task force on CAS after its discussion with the Finance Ministry had decided that a minimum of 30 channels should be provided for a fee of Rs 72 per month, many cable operators had agreed to provide 60 to 70 free-to-air channels for Rs 72 per month.

He justified the proposed introduction of CAS from September 1 and said the government had not taken the decision in hurry.

Prasad said the Centre decided on a phased roll-out from September 1 to ensure adequate availability of set-top boxes, which would be required to access pay channels under the CAS regime and to ensure a smooth implementation.

He said the prices of set-top boxes would come down after the market picked up.

"If you want to bring an industrial revolution…do not stall efforts to bring CAS," he said.

Prasad was repeatedly interrupted by Opposition members, who said the government was in a hurry to implement the measure.

"Is there any lobby at work?" Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) Sarla Maheshwari asked.

PTI