Normal life was paralysed across Odisha on Monday due to a dawn-to-dusk bandh called by Congress against construction of dams on Mahanadi river in Chhattisgarh and demanded intervention by the Centre to halt the projects, even as the party threatened to intensify its stir.
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Sources said the Chhattisgarh government is constructing Gullu Hydro Electric project in north east region of the State.
Shops, business establishments, markets, educational institutions were closed in most parts of Odisha.
In the morning, vehicles were kept off the road while long distance passenger buses were controlled at different places to escape from being targeted by bandh supporters.
Rajya Sabha MP Ranjib Biswal, deputy leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Chiranjib Biswal, former minister Jagannath Patnaik, former MP Anant Prasad Sethi, several other leaders and workers accompanied Mishra.
The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has called for a 12-hour Odisha bandh today protesting against the unilateral construction of barrages by the Chhattisgarh government in the upper catchment area of Mahanadi River. “There is no factionalism in the party”, he said and added that the bandh has shown that the Congress party is one.
Harichandan said the State Government had tried to sabotage the bandh. “The central government has remained a mute spectator”, he said.
Experts said if the proposal is executed, the river, which passes through Raigarh and Jashpur districts of Chhattisgarh and Jharsuguda and Sundargarh districts of Odisha, may run much below its water carrying capacity.
According to State Congress, 3500 of its members were arrested while the impact of bandh was felt across the State.
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Elaborate security arrangements have been made to prevent any untoward situation during the shutdown, police said. Find us on Facebook too!
