Odisha MP writes to Modi, demands revival of Doordarshan Kendra in Sambalpur

Sambalpur, Aug 25: Lok Sabha member Suresh Pujari has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his personal intervention and support in reviving the Doordarshan Kendra in Sambalpur. The Parliamentarian said the Doordarshan Kendra in Sambalpur, which was commissioned back in 1978 as the eighth Doordarshan Kendra of the country, has started losing its past glory and surviving as a structure only, thanks to non-patronisation and reduction of staff and its dimension. It has played a pivotal role in promoting and enriching the rich culture, heritage, tradition, music and dance of western Odisha. Pujari also focussed on the programme generating facility (PGF) studio, which has almost become defunct as there is no programme staff out of 15 sanctioned strength. The sorrowful state of affairs can be well understood from the fact that the only cameraman available against two sanctioned strength was withdrawn and transferred by the Prasar Bharti, thereby putting the last nail in the coffin, he added. He urged the PM to ensure that the vacant posts including that of two cameramen in the production unit be filled up at the earliest. The MP also demanded upgradation of the centre to a full-fledged DDK with ultramodern studio, DD-6 (RLSS) channel for 24×7 service and a fully digitalised news van (broadcast van).