MONDAY, 18 JUNE 2012
22:57
PNS | BALANGIR
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Normal life was affected in Balangir due to the 12-hour bandh call
given by the Lower Suktel Action Committee (LSAC) and supported by different
organisations of the town demanding speedy execution of the Lower Suktel
Irrigation Project.
Shops and other business establishments remained closed.
Buses were off the roads. LSAC activists led by Gopalji Panigrahi and Arun
Mishra picketed before different Government offices, banks, post offices and
the District Judge Court, which were all closed.
While the banks were closed, the SBI ATM counter at the
main branch was also not functioning, adding to the woes of people. A customer,
who faced problem while withdrawing money from the ATM, criticised the SBI
authorities for not providing enough cash and 24-hour service.
On Sunday, the discussions between district administration
led by Collector SN Dey and LSAC members led by Gopalji Panigrahi and Arun
Mishra on the fate of the irrigation project had failed.
The next course of action of the agitation will be decided
at a meeting soon, said Arun Mishra, who is the Samajwadi Party Balangir
district unit president.
Congress leader and former local MP Sarat Patanaik said
that it was the Congress Government which had got the project sanctioned. While
the Lower Indra Irrigation Project has progressed a lot, the Lower Suktel
Project remained a non-starter. This speaks of the neglect by Chief Minister
Naveen Patnaik to this area. It also speaks of the neglect of the local MLA and
MP towards this region, he said.
“We are with the people and we support the agitation for
the Lower Suktel Project,” said District Congress Committee president Bhagaban
Bagarti.
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