Dhenkanal: Normal life was crippled at Rasola in Dhenkanal district on Thursday owing to a dawn-to-dusk bandh called by Rasola Bikas Parishad over Notified Area Council (NAC) status to the area.
The state government has recently announced 34 new NACs excluding Rasola which is why resentment is brewing among the residents of Rasola.
Coming down heavily on the state government, Rasola Bikas Mancha of Dhenkanal called a 12-hour bandh demanding NAC status to the region.
The protesters alleged that the state government is yet to accord Rasola Panchayat with NAC status despite having a population of more than 10,000 people and fulfilling all the criteria to avail the NAC tag. Despite being recognized as the largest panchayat in the district, the government’s indifferent attitude towards the region has upset the residents. In 2014, the then district collector had recommended the government to accord Rasola with NAC status, but in vain.
Upset over the government’s dillydallying attitude in fulfilling their demand, Rasol Bikas Parishad held a protest meeting on February 25 and decided to observe a 12-hour bandh. The members also submitted a memorandum to the sub-collector addressing to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
The agitators threatened to intensify the protest if the government fails to fulfil their demand within three days.
Private offices, banks and financial institutions, educational institutions, business establishments and markets remained closed. Similarly, vehicular movement was also affected during the bandh as protestors staged a blockade on Puruna Cuttack-Sambalpur Road.
According to sources, the Odisha government has recently declared 34 new NACs and upgraded 5 NACs into municipalities in various districts. The government’s declaration, however, led to protests in several left-out places.
Earlier, a 12-hour bandh was also observed in Loisingha in Boudh district demanding the same. Also, a dawn-to-dusk bandh was observed at Purunakatak area which has also been left out from the NAC tag.
Several outfits called bandh in protest against the state government’s failure to accord NAC status to M Rampur in Kalahandi, Subalaya and Binika in Subranapur, Bongomunda in Bolangir, Bamra in Sambalpur and Baliapal in Balasore district.
