Sambalpur, Feb. 4: People took part in a dawn-to-dusk strike called by the Burla Sangram Samiti over land settlement here today.

All educational institutions, courts, banks and financial institutions, shops and business establishments, state and central government offices remained closed.

Public transport was severely affected. Even autorickshaws stayed off the roads. The agitators also picketed in front of state and central government offices and forced them to close.

Samiti convener Girija Nayak said: "Several people came to Burla when the Hirakud dam was constructed. They came here to work in the dam project and got settled here. They have been staying here for 50 years now. However, the government is yet to issue permanent patta."

"More than 55,000 such people stay in the town. Around 25 per cent of the total population have been staying here on government land. The government should issue them permanent patta," Nayak said.

Nayak said the strike was spontaneous and several organisations and political parties extended support.

However, many people visiting the town faced inconvenience. "I had come to Burla from Bargarh to meet a relative, who has been admitted to Veer Surendra Institute of Medical Sciences and Research. I was unaware about the strike. The bus did not enter Burla and I had to get down at University Chhak and walk for 3.5km to reach the hospital," said Santosh Saha.Barpali resident Nirakar Sahu also faced a similar problem.

"I stay in a rented house in Burla and have my lunch at restaurants. I had to skip lunch today because all of them were closed today," said Bishal Debata, marketing executive of a private company.