Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting Anurag Thakur says, as on March 31 this year, private companies owe 214.24 crore rupees  to AIR and Doordarshan pertaining to advertisements.<br />'' <br />'' In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Mr Thakur said Prasar Bharati has put in place a system to monitor  the collection of outstanding dues  and follows it up with private companies for its recovery. He said various actions such as encashment of Bank Guarantee, invocation of arbitration are also resorted to.<br />'' <br />''The Minister said Prasar Bharati's primary duty is to carry out public broadcasting services to inform, educate and entertain the public, and to ensure a balanced development of broadcasting on radio and television. He said its purpose is solely not commercial but to reach those areas where no private broadcaster would venture.