Keonjhar: Normal life was hit in Telkoi in Odisha’s Keonjhar district on Thursday in response to a dawn-to-dusk bandh called by the Chokdar Coordinating Committee against Samakoi irrigation project in the region. The bandh is being supported by all sections of the society, irrespective of political colours.
The protestors have demanded a complete shutdown of the Chakdhar irrigation project on the Samakoi river.
While all business establishments downed shutters, educational institutions remained closed in response to the bandh call. The bandh protagonists staged a road blockade at Bombay-Calcutta National Highway No. 49 at Jagmohanpur intersection brining traffic to a standstill. Hundreds of vehicles were seen stuck on both sides of the road.
The state government’s has made provision for the implementation of the Angul Samakoi Barrage project. The place of construction is in Kardangi Panchayat Chokdhar of Keonjhar district.
There has been a sharp reaction to the construction of the project which is feared to submerge several villages in the region. On August 27, the Chief Minister was urged to stop the construction of project. As there was no response from the government, locals called for the Telkoi bandh today.
