PATHANAMTHITTA: Resentment is brewing among media persons over the move of the Devaswom board to demolish the media centre at Sabarimala Sannidhanam and make unscientific arrangements in a building at Pandithavalam for media organisations.

Devaswom Board has already signed a contract for pulling down the structure that houses the media centre. The contract has been given to demolish the edifice opposite to Malikappuram temple and level the ground. The building here has 22 media offices, a bank, office of Revenue department executive magistrate and Excise offices.

The explanation given by the Devaswom board for the demolition is it is done to facilitate development works according to the master plan.
The building that will be erased is said to be one of the most suitable and convenient buildings for reporting.

According to sources, the media centre will be shifted to Darshanam Complex in Pandithavalam. But access to this building, bordering the forest area and which is far away from Sannidhanam is very difficult.

A meeting of media persons at Pathanamthitta Press Club on Wednesday has opined that the new location is the abode of wild animals and poisonous snakes and idea to shift media persons to this locality is a ploy to keep media reporters away from Sannidhanam. The idea to give single room for two media organisations is unscientific, they pointed out.

The members also urged the Devaswom board to reinstall media office at an appropriate place.