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| Protesters sit outside the district collector’s office and (below) shops remain closed in Sambalpur. Telegraph pictures |
Sambalpur/Balangir, Aug. 9: Life was affected in several districts of the state today with people observing bandhs protesting the state government’s proposed Sindol hydro-power project.
In Sonepur, the BJP and Congress took out separate rallies opposing the project. Responding to a call given by the Sambalpur District Bar Association, several political and non-political bodies joined the 12-hour bandh. Vehicular traffic in the city came to a standstill.
Banks, courts, educational institutions, several offices of the state government and central government, shops and other commercial establishment were closed in the district. The demonstrators also stopped trains passing through Sambalpur for two hours in the morning.
The Congress, BJP, NCP and CPI workers too joined the bandh. “We don’t want the project. People who were displaced for the Hirakud dam are yet to be settled. The Sindol project would cause displacement of several families,” said Bar Association president Pramod Rath.
In Kuchinda, lawyers and activists of several political parties picketed at Panchmukhi Chhak, Mandir Chhak and the bus stand of the town. The activists blocked the national highway and stopped vehicles. The bandh also affected normal life in Rairakhol. Banks, government offices, educational institutions were closed in the city.
Bandh supporters blocked the highway connecting Sambalpur and Sonepur and burnt effigies of chief minister Naveen Patnaik, energy minister Atanu Sabyasachi Naik and health minister Prasanna Acarya. “We will not let the government carry out this project,” said Siva Narayan Sahu, convener of Sindol Bruhat Jala Bidyut Prakalpa Birodhi Kriyanusthan Committee. Normal life was thrown out of gear in Boudh due to the dawn to dusk bandh call given by the Koshal Kranti Dal (KKD) and Manamunda Action Committee (MAC).
The call was given to protest against the state government’s decision to construct three barrages over Mahanadi for the 320 MW hydel-power project. The response to the bandh call was spontaneous as schools, colleges, banks and all other government and private offices remained closed. There was no vehicular movement in the town as well as on NH-57. Boudh district president of KKD Lalit Sahu said the bandh was a success as people from all walks of life supported it.