‘Maha Bandh’ For HC Bench Continues To Cripple Life In W Odisha

Sambalpur: The 48-hour ‘Maha Bandh’, which entered its second day on Friday, has several affected traffic movement in Sambalpur, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Sonepur and Sundargarh districts.

The Central Action Committee (CAC) of All Western Odisha Bar Association (AWOBA) had called for the bandh, demanding a permanent High Court bench in western Odisha.

Following blockades and picketing by the members, hundreds of trucks remained stranded on either side of the national highway.

“We have come from Nasik with tomatoes. We cannot move from here owing to the strike and getting food has also become a problem,” said a truck driver.

Drivers of trucks carrying grapes and other vegetables expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of the perishable items.

Apart from Sambalpur Bar Association, all such associations in western Odisha districts, except Balangir and Bargarh, civil societies and several social and cultural organisations have lent their unstinting support to the ‘Maha Bandh’.

According to the sources, all trading establishments, educational institutions and government offices remained closed..

The Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT), which was scheduled to conduct the examination on Thursday, has postponed it owing to the bandh.

However, emergency services like health, ambulance, water supply and social functions like marriage have been kept out of the purview of the bandh.

Notably, the Balangir Bar Association has decided to launch a separate agitation for the HC bench in Balangir from December 1 to 15 and called for a bandh on December 3. The Association will resort to cease work in the district from December 3 to 10.