Hundreds of residents of Kuanrmunda block of Sundargarh district under the banner of the Kuanrmunda Sangram Samittee observed a 12-hour bandh here on Saturday protesting a Government decision to include as many as nine villages of their block under comprehensive development plan of the Rourkela Development Authority.
The bandh was total since the agitated locals staged blockade at as many as five locations on NH 143 and paralysed the traffic movement. Besides, all Government and private institutions remained shut. Significantly, the bandh was supported by all political parties, including the BJP, the BJD, the Congress and the JMM etc.
Sources said in the process of formation of greater Rourkela, a comprehensive development plan (CDP) of Rourkela city has been under process under the guidelines of the Union Ministry of Urban Development.
As per the plan, expansion of the city is being planned out by inclusion of the neighbouring outskirts villages of the city. Accordingly, as many as nine villages such as Jamunanaki, Padmapur, Sarandamal, Sarandaposh, langiberna, Kuanrmunda, Teliposh, lodesara and Chadri Hariharput were proposed to be included under the CDP. However, soon after the news of inclusion of areas came to the fore, the residents began to protest the plan. Birmitrapur MlA George Tirkey recently had opposed the inclusion of nine villages under Kuanrmunda block.
"For me first is Mati (native area), then comes party and therefore, we joined the protest as we don’t believe that inclusion under the jurisdiction of RDA will ensure development in our area," said BJD leader Sanjib Pratap Singhdeo.