Demonstrators in front of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 22: A group of protesters today hit the streets to protest against against the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s decision to levy Rs 1,000 for staging dharnas in front of the Assembly on Mahatma Gandhi Marg.

The protesters shouted slogans against the order, calling it arbitrary and anti-democratic. They demanded revocation of the order.

“Every citizen has the right to protest. Demanding Rs 1,000 from them is unjustified. BMC is making money from everything including roads and drains. Instead of collecting levy from the protesters they should invest the money they have in a transparent manner,” said Sura Jena, a protester.

Although the BMC passed the order before the Assembly came into session, hardly any organisation has paid heed to it. Two organisations yesterday staged protests on Mahatma Gandhi Marg without obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the BMC.

Earlier, groups that wanted to stage a dharna used to obtain permission from the police.

But with this decision they have to obtain an NOC from the civic authorities as well by depositing a sum of Rs 1,000.

Some BMC councillors have also criticised the move. “In the coming council meeting we will oppose the move. If the BMC is so concerned about keeping the place clean, they should deploy some persons at the place to find out who is responsible for creating a mess. How can they charge everyone who stages a dharna?” asked a councillor.

BMC officials have said that the decision was taken on the basis of power granted to the civic authorities under the Orissa Municipal Corporation (OMC) Act, 2003.

Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said the BMC would not revoke its decision.

“The move is supposed to dissuade protesters from making a mess around the area. As far as smaller groups or individuals are concerned, there are special provisions for them, but they have to first apply for an NOC from BMC,” said Jena.

Traffic came to a halt at Master Canteen Square for some time this afternoon, as around 5,000 women under the banner of Odisha Sabuja Patrika Mahila Mahasangha (OSPMM) reached Master Canteen Square around 3pm, blocking traffic that had to be diverted through the narrow streets and lanes around it.

The women were demanding special incentives for green card holders and land to the landless.

These women, who had staged a protest on Mahatma Gandhi Marg this morning, did not even allow school and college students to pass through Master Canteen Square. Some people on their way to the railway station nearly missed their trains.

Around 4pm, senior police officers promised the women protesters they would arrange a meeting with the authorities concerned and the blockade was lifted.