Balangir: The demand for district status for Titilagarh resurfaced during the concluding evening of Kumuda Mahotsav on Sunday.

Speaking on the occasion, president of Kumuda Mahotsav committee and Titilagarh legislator, Tukuni Sahu, said: "Titilagarh was elevated to municipality status from Notified Area Council (NAC) in 2014, but the main demand of the local residents is the district status for Titilagarh," she said.

"The demand for a separate district is genuine. I have full faith on our chief minister that he will consider it," she said. Supporting the demand, BJD legislator of Kantabanjhi, Ayub Khan, said: "Both geographically and demographically Titilagarh qualifies to be a district. There are many districts in the state, which are much smaller than Titilagarh sub-division, in size and population."

Comparing the size and population of many districts of Chhattisgarh with Titilagarh. Khan said: "In Chhattisgarh, there are many districts which are smaller in size and population than Titilagarh."

The district action committee of Titilagarh has also been agitating for formation of separate Titilagarh district for the past many years.