G Udayagiri: An alleged move by the Centre to close down the low-powered transponder (LPT) Doordarshan Kendra station here in Kandhamal district has sparked resentment among residents, a report said Saturday.
The residents led by block vice-chairperson Hrudananda Kanhar, Raikola sarpanch Surendra Kumar Pradhan and NAC councilor Ramesh Chandra Behera have warned of an agitation if the Centre does not desist from its move to close down the centre. Reliable sources said the report is true as the station will stop airing programmes from November 5
They alleged that the Centre is willfully neglecting the Kandhamal district and any attempt to close down the DDK station will be fought with. Residents cutting across party lines have demanded before the Centre to reconsider its decision.
Lawyers Gokulananda Sahu, Rabindra Kumar Panda also joined chorus and demanded that the Centre start an FM station in the area instead of making attempts to close down the station.
Sources said the Doordarshan Kendra was established here in 1998 and people living within a 12-km radius of the station were able to watch the television in their houses. As a result, over 60,000 people living in 120 villages could watch various programme telecast by the national broadcaster.
Block vice-chairperson Kanhar said if the Doordarshan Kendra is closed down, people from financially backward community in rural areas will be deprived of watching DD-1 and DD-2 channel that come to them free of cost.
When contacted, station head Raj Kishore Nayak said he has no idea about the move but has heard it from others.
PNN