Sundargarh: Local residents of Kuanramunda block in Sundargarh district observed a six-hour bandh on Wednesday to protest against pollution caused allegedly by sponge iron factory.
Most commercial establishments, educational institutions, shops and markets remained shut, while vehicles stayed off the roads due to the bandh call by Kuanramunda Nagarika Committee.
The agitators were seen sloganeering and staging road blockades at major roads and junctions at various places.
“The pollution levels in our surroundings have been increased owing to release of black smoke from the sponge iron factory causing a public health crisis in the locality. So, immediate steps should be taken by the district administration to check air pollution in the area”, an agitator said.