Odisha witnessed a surge of public unrest as residents in Borigumma, Begunia, and Jaipatna staged bandhs to demand Notified Area Council (NAC) status for their towns, following Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s Independence Day promise to establish 21 new NACs across the state. The protests, marked by road blockades and shuttered businesses, reflect growing frustration over delays in fulfilling these commitments, with only 12 NACs notified so far by the Housing and Urban Development Department across seven districts.

In Borigumma, Koraput district, a 12-hour bandh from 6 AM disrupted daily life, with protestors blocking roads and national highways, forcing shops and commercial establishments to close. Similarly, Begunia in Khurda district observed a six-hour shutdown from 6 AM to noon, with demonstrators decrying the omission of their town from the announced NAC list. A protester in Begunia noted, “Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had promised NAC status for Begunia, but the BJP government has overlooked us. We’re protesting without disrupting emergency services.” Jaipatna in Kalahandi district also joined the fray, staging a bandh to press for NAC recognition, highlighting the town’s long-standing demand for urban administrative status.

In Rajkanika, Kendrapara district, Congress supporters escalated the movement with a protest march, demanding NAC status for the town and sub-division status for Aul block. They submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the local tahasildar, urging swift action. Meanwhile, in Rairakhol, Sambalpur district, the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) called a 12-hour bandh, blocking National Highway-55 and causing significant traffic disruptions. Their demands extended beyond NAC status to include completing the Sambalpur–Cuttack NH-55, constructing a bypass, and waiving toll taxes.

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The Housing and Urban Development Minister, Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, assured that the remaining nine NACs would be announced on August 31, Local Self-Governance Day. However, the delay has fueled accusations of political maneuvering, with opposition parties like Congress and BJD criticizing the ruling BJP for neglecting local aspirations. Borigumma’s case is particularly contentious, as its demand for NAC status, dating back to the 2019 elections, has been a rallying point for both BJP and Congress, who accuse the BJD of earlier inaction.

Odisha’s urban local bodies, governed under the Odisha Municipal Act, are critical for managing public health, sanitation, and infrastructure in towns with populations between 10,000 and 20,000. The creation of 34 new NACs and five upgraded municipalities in 2024 underscores the state’s push for urban development, yet the current protests highlight the urgency of addressing local demands to ensure equitable growth across Odisha’s diverse regions. As the government races to meet its deadline, the bandhs signal a growing public resolve to hold authorities accountable.

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