Bargarh/Berhampur: Normal life was hit following a 12-hour bandh in Padmapur in Bargarh district and Purushottampur in Ganjam district on Monday.
Reports from Padmapur said all trading establishments remained closed while vehicular traffic came to a standstill due to the 12-hour dawn-to-dusk bandh call given by the Sachetana Nagarika Manch and supported by 32 organisations demanding district status to Padmapur sub-division.
The agitators told the media that since some blocks in Bargarh district are situated at a distance of more than 150 km from the district headquarters, the district administration is not paying special attention to these blocks.
Stating that the entire Padmapur sub-division area in non-irrigated, they said the plight of the people is like the people of the KBK districts.
“The people Padmapur sub-division are deprived of the benefits like the KBK district as it is tagged to Bargarh district. They had urged the state government to accord district status to Padmapur when the latter had reorganised the districts in 1994. We will continue the agitation till the state government accords district status to Padmapur,” the agitators maintained.
In Purushottampur, the lawyers’ association and the traders’ association have also given the 12-hour bandh call.
While the lawyers’ association has demanded setting up a sub-judge court, the traders’ association has demanded the construction of incomplete roads.
All trading establishments remained closed while the vehicular movement in the area has completely stopped due to the bandh call.
