The tribals’ demonstration against the Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) reached its 5th day on Wednesday with no steps being taken to address the concerns of the agitators. Hundreds of tribal villagers under the banner of Sundargarh Adivasi Mulabasi Bachao Sangha (SAMBS) are protesting the inclusion of their villages in the corporation limit 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 on the steering wheel of the agitation.
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. He announced Rourkela Bandh on March 18 and protest to the Chief Minister’s visit to Rourkela on March 15.
Sources said since the announcement of corporation status to Rourkela Municipality about a year ago, some Gram Panchayats and areas of the neighbouring areas of the city located on the outskirts of the municipality limits have been protesting their inclusion in the new civic body. The Government, however, by ignoring the tribals brought out a notice on November 14 last for the Rourkela Municipal Corporation. Though initially the tribals were demanding the elimination of some panchayats from the proposed corporation area, but now they are opposing the corporation itself.
In another development Talsara Congress MlA Prafulla Majhi has extended his party’s support to the agitation. He said that without approval of the Gram Sabha, the State Government has included Jagda and Jhartarang panchayats in the corporation area which is unlawful.