Normal life was crippled in Indravati town in Nabarangpur district on Saturday following a 12-hour dawn–to-dusk bandh call given by the district unit of Congress seeking justice for the displaced people during the construction of the Indravati multipurpose irrigation project.
The impact of the bandh was all pervasive as almost all business establishments and educational institutes, remained shut and roads remained deserted for the better part of the day. Towards evening shops started opening up and road traffic picked up gradually.
During the construction of Indravati hydro-electric project, hundreds of families were displaced but they have not been rehabilitated, or resettled properly, said senior Congress leader Pradeep Majhi.
He demanded justice for the displaced persons and appealed the Government to rehabilitate the displaced persons at the earliest. Majhi warned of intensifying the protest in the days ahead.
Others demands included takeover by Government of project high school, college and hospital, digging of bore wells in the downstream regions of Indravati, Podagad, and Kapur rivers.
Tentulikhunti tehsildar Balbahadur Singh Dharua and the project officials discussed with the agitators during the demonstration in front of Chief Engineer's office of Indravati.
District Congress president Muna Tripathy with hundreds party workers were present.