Normal life in most places of western Odisha was disrupted on Monday due to a 12-hour Mahabandh observed by the Kosal State Coordination Committee demanding creation of a separate Kosal State.

The bandh was observed in 11 districts — Bargarh, Balangir, Boudh, Koraput, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Sundargarh, Sambalpur and Subarnapur.

Despite heavy rains, committee members picketed in front of several Government offices. Schools, colleges and business establishments were closed. Similarly, vehicular movement was severely disrupted. Several regional associations extended their support to the shutdown.

However, emergency services, including railway services, were kept out of the purview of the bandh.

“While the Kosal region contributes around 72 percentage of revenue to the State, barely 10 per cent is spent for development of this region resulting in rise in unemployment, distress migration and poverty. We demand a separate   Koshal State for development this region,” said lawyer Dolamani Pradhan at Balangir.

In Jharsguda district, the bandh received a huge response in its three towns of Jharsuguda, Brajrajnagar and Belpahar.

In Bargarh, various associations, including Bargarh District Lawyers Association, Traders association, District Journalists Association and youth forums, supported the bandh.

In Nuapada district, the bandh was totally successful. Schools, colleges and Government institutions remained closed. Vehicles were stopped at different places by agitators. The bandh at Khariar was led by Irphan Mohemmed, Sanjay Tiwari, Tapan Dash, Sailendra Panigrahi and Pruthiraj Mohanty of the Khariar branch of Kosal Mahabandh Coordination Committee.

On the other hand, the Mahabandh had its ‘no impact’in Sambalpur district. All organisations of Sambalpur protested the Mahabandh looking at the attitude of some people Bargarh and Balangir and their alleged conspiracy against the age-old ‘Sambalpuri language’ and anti-Sambalpur activities on different core issues including a High Court Bench.