Sambalpur: Intensifying their demand for the establishment of a permanent High Court bench in western Odisha, the agitating lawyers today launched a three-day economic blockade in four districts.
The members under the aegis of Sambalpur Bar Association are staging the blockade in the districts of Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, and Deogarh.
According to reports, the lawyers intend to stop all the vehicles carrying raw materials like coal, cement, rod, and sand to various industrial institutions in the four districts. The agitating lawyers have also decided to stop the illegal supply of water from Hirakud dam to all industrial units in these districts.
This apart, the outfit picketed at different places in the city areas to press for their demand. Coal production, mines and minerals, goods production and their export was severely affected during the blockade.
“Despite our repeated pleas and protests, our demands have not been taken into consideration. So, we are forced to stage the economic blockade,” Sambalpur Bar Association president, Bijitndriya Pradhan said.
Meanwhile, normal life was paralysed in Kalahandi district as agitating lawyers called a 12-hour bandh in the district demanding permanent high court bench in the area.
Markets, business establishments, educational institutions, and government offices have remained closed following the bandh. Vehicular movement has also been hit due to the bandh. However, emergency services have been exempted from the purview of the bandh.
Lawyers in the western part of the State have been agitating over the past four months pressing for the establishment of permanent High Court bench in the region.
The Home department had earlier appealed the agitating lawyers and other members to withdraw their protest keeping in view the problems faced by people and the disruption of judicial services.
Various political parties and social outfits have extended their support to the bandh, added sources.
PNN
