Bhanjanagar: Normal life was disrupted at Bhanjanagar in Odisha’s Ganjam due to a dawn-to-dusk shutdown demanding grant of separate district status to Ghumsar.
The 12-hour bandh, observed under the banner of Ghumsar Kriyanusthan Committee, was supported by the local units of the political parties, social organisations and other outfits. Around 40 organisations including major political parties extended their support to the bandh to press the demand.
Shops and business establishments downed their shutters, while vehicular movement came to a grinding halt during the shutdown. Members of the Ghumsar Kriyanusthan Committee were seen picketing at strategic locations in the town holding placards and banners.
However, educational institutions including schools and colleges have been kept out of the purview of the bandh in view of ongoing examinations.
It may be noted that Bhanjanagar sub-division in Ganjam district has eight blocks. The Ghumsar Kriyanusthan Committee has been demanding district status for Ghumsar, comprising these eight blocks for the last 30 years.
The demand for district status got intensified when several regions, with some of them lacking infrastructure, raised their district status demand
Notably, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced that Padampur in Bargarh will be accorded separate district status by the end of this year.
