While the State Government has been moving ahead for the full fledged formation of a Rourkela Municipal Corporation with no change in geographical limits, the tribals protesting it are in no mood to relent.
Meanwhile, the Odisha Governor has given his accord to the Mayor post of the corporation for a ST woman.
The demonstration against the move reached its 20th day on Friday with no steps being taken to address the concerns of the agitators who have been united under the banner of Sundargarh Adivasi Mulabasi Bachao Sangha (SAMBS).
They are protesting the inclusion of their villages in the corporation limits since March 7 and are demanding rollback of the decision. Senior tribal leaders of the district like Biramitrapur MlA George Trikey and former Raghunathpalli MlA Halu Mundari are leading it. Tirkey said according to provisions of Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act, 1996, Sundargarh is a scheduled district and there should be no municipal corporation in the PESA area where the tribals are staying. Tirkey alleged that in the pretext of corporation, there is an attempt to exploit the tribals and grab their land.
Though it is a debatable topic whether PESA restricts for formation or expansion of UlB in schedule area but many denounce the claim of Tirkey. According them how Tirkey has been participating in Biramitrapur and Rajgangpur UlB elections in past years. Similarly, local Congress is in confusion over the tribals’ agitation. While in one part their Talsara MlA, Sundargarh MlA and Rajgangpur’s former MlA have extended their support to the agitation, the party as a whole is yet to clear its stand.
Interestingly while the MlAs of Biramitrapur, Talsara and Sundargarh are poking their nose in the agitation opposing the corporation status to Rourkela and its territory, the people’s representatives of Rourkela are keeping mum on the issue. Neither Rourkela MlA Dilip Ray nor Raghunathpali MlA Subrat Tarai has expressed their stand on the issue clearly.
Similarly, two tribal leaders Jual Oram and Dilip Tirkey who are MP in lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha respectively have also so far remained silent.
Most significantly a public road and Rourkela Municipal Corporation’s main gate have been choked by the agitating tribals since March 7 causing inconvenience to the commuters and residents but the administration or police are not doing anything to clear the road. It is also heard that the agitation may go to new height on April 1 as the Prime Minster and Chief Minister are scheduled to visit Rourkela on the day.