: The Talcher District Kriyanusthan Committee has decided for a 12-hour Talcher Bandh on June 7 to press for declaring Talcher as a district.
The people of Talcher have been repeatedly agitating for district status to Talcher since 1993. Former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik had promised the people of Talcher to upgrade Talcher to a district which would be the 31st district in the State.
Since the State Government has started a process of forming new districts, the people of Talcher have been peacefully sitting in front of the Sub Collector's office for more than 180 days, demanding a separate district status for Talcher.
The agitators said as Talcher produces the largest amount of coal and electricity in the country and pays huge amount of revenue being a mining hub, the area which is a Sub Division deserves a district status.
Talcher is the most polluted area, while education, health, transportation and drinking water facilities have not been properly developed. Besides, Pallahara, Parjang and Kankadahad remain most backward. If Pallahara, Parjang, Kankadahad and other peripheral areas are included in Talcher as a district, these areas will be get greater focus as far as development is concerned.
Action Committee headed by Chaitanya Pradhan submitted a memorandum in this regard to the State Revenue Minister, Dhenkanal MP, MLAs Talcher, Palallhara and Parjang, SP, Angul, MCL CMD and Khurda DRM.