Bhubaneswar: Demand for grant of Notified Area Council (NAC) status has been gaining momentum in different urban areas of Odisha. Residents of different areas have also been observing shutdowns for the demand.
A dawn-to-dusk bandh is being observed at Borigumma in Koraput district on Friday over the demand for recognition as NAC.
As part of the 12-hour bandh, called by Borigumma Nagarika Mancha, shops and business establishments have been asked to remain closed till 6 pm. The bandh organisers have also urged educational institutions suspend classes.
While vehicular movement was disrupted in the area due to the shutdown, emergency services have been exempted from the purview of the bandh.
The agitation follows the Odisha government’s declaration on Independence Day, when Chief Minister Mohan Majhi announced the formation of 21 new NACs. However, the official notification released later mentioned only 12 areas, with Borigumma missing from the list. This led to resentment among the people of Borigumma who gave a call for shutdown.
Similar protest was witnessed in Begunia in Khurda district where a six-hour bandh was observed over the same demand for NAC recognition. Various parties and organisations have extended their support to the Begunia bandh. Commercial establishments remain closed except for emergency services, which continue to operate.
Meanwhile, Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra has assured that the demand for new NACs is under active consideration. He said the names of nine more NACs would be announced on August 31 on the occasion of Local Self-Government Day,
He also said that the state government has taken into account the population and the required criteria before finalising the draft.
