Movement of heavy vehicles were totally off the roads in various parts of western Odisha due to a 72-hour economic blockade launched by the Central Action Committee (CAC) of lawyers from Monday in support of their demand for establishment of a Bench of the Orissa High court in the region. Hundreds of heavy vehicles were stranded on both sides of the highways.
“The agitation is peaceful in four districts of Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Sundargarh and Sambalpur. Movement of coal and other minerals and various other materials has totally stopped,” Sambalpur District Bar Association president Bijendriya Pradhan told The Pioneer.
Members of various bar associations of western Odisha have been demanding establishment of a HC Bench in the region for several decades. They observed a 48-hour “Mahabandh” on November 29 and 30 last which had paralysed the normal life. The bandh was actively supported by all political parties, including the ruling BJD. Meanwhile, the lawyers’ agitation completed 124 days.
Functioning of the various judicial courts and the district civil administration has been paralysed in the district following the strike and dharna by the lawyers. While the judiciary system had been stalled since September 5, the district Collectorate has been closed since September 25.
The CAC, which met recently at Jharsuguda, decided to intensify the agitation till fulfilment of the demand, its convener Ashok Das said.
The strike has also seriously affected the revenue collection from land registration. As no bail petition is moved for under-trial prisoners due to the agitation, such inmates of the Sambalpur jail are bearing the brunt of the prolonged strike. Besides, the strength of the inmates in the jail crossed 1,040 on Monday against its capacity of 541, the jail sources said.
District Collector Samarth Verma said he has intimated the situation to the Government and negotiations are on to end the strike.
Meanwhile, a six-member delegation of MLAs of western Odisha led by Dr Raseswari Panigrahi (Sambalpur) and Naba Das (Jharsuguda) met Chief minister Naveen Patnaik and submitted a memorandum to him requesting him to take up the issue with the Union Government to end the strike and provide relief to the common people.