Ending all speculations, the State Government finally accorded corporation status to the Rourkela Municipality. A notice to this effect was brought out on Friday last.
There were a lot of disputes over the size of the corporation and the areas to be included in its ambit. While a few among those decided to be included wanted to be spared, a few others who were not originally planned to be included in the corporation, sought to be in it.
The final notice has made it clear that the corporation includes Jagda, Jhartaranga and Nabakrishnanagar panchayats, besides the areas under the Rourkela Municipality. The development has made many locals happy here.
It may be mentioned here that the State Urban department had notified on November 15, 2013 for Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) with a proposal to include Jagda and Jhirpani panchayats of Bisra block, Jhartaranga, Gopapali, Brahmani Taranga, Sana Brahmani Taranga villages of Jhartaranga panchayat, lungei, Kalokudar, Beldihi, Goibhanga, Jiabahal, Kalunga (A) and Kalunga (B) of Kalunga panchayat, Mahalipali, Malikpali, Sarla, Chikatmati, Bhalupatra, Sananuagoan and Kilingi of Chikatmati panchayat and Jalda village of Jalda panchayat in lathikata Block along with existing 33 Wards of the Rourkela Municipality.
It had invited objection and concurrence from the public. Since then all most all six panchayats had raised objection to the merger of their areas with the proposed corporation. They had expressed their protest by organizing rallies and demonstrations. The tribal dominated villages opposed it on the ground that the inclusion of their villages would violate the PESA. last month noted social activist Swami Agnivesh had joined a tribal rally to oppose the move.
On the other hand, the people of Nabakrishnanagar, Gopabandhunagar, IDl Colony, Balijudi, Sonaparbat, Tarapur, lal Tanki, laxmi Market, Construction Colony, Modern India, Britania Colony, RH Colony, Tilka Nagar and Hamirpur urged the district administration to include them in the proposed corporation. Even a PIl was filed in the State High Court by social activist and BJD leader Niranjan Dash and two others for ignoring Hamirpur, Nabakrishna Nagar, Tumkela, Tilkanagar and Construction Colony.
The disputes had led to a suspense lingering over the final size of the corporation. Even there were apprehensions that the very decision to accord the status to Rourkela civic body may be withheld. The Sachetan Nagarika Manch (SNM), a civil society forum, had threatened last week to stage a demonstration if there was further delay in according the status.
Though a small number of tribals are still opposing the decision to include Jagada panchayat and certain areas of Jharkhand, but by and large the State Government’s decision on the size of the corporation has been welcomed by people of all walks of life, including elected representatives, trade unions, various social and cultural organisations and individuals. Those who sought to come under the jurisdiction of the corporation but have been left out are aggrieved but are hopeful that they may be merged with the new civic body in due course of time. Now, all eyes are on election to the corporation.