Sambalpur: Normalcy returned Saturday after two days of ‘Maha bandh’ in western Odisha by the Central Action Committee (CAC) of the All Western Odisha Bar Association (AWOBA) demanding the establishment of a permanent bench of the Orissa High Court in the region.
CAC spokesperson Sureswar Mishra said that they received overwhelming support from the public for the bandh. People supported the two-day-long agitation despite facing inconveniences, he said.
Normal life was paralysed during the 48-hour ‘Mahabandh’ in western Odisha that began Thursday. Banks, financial institutions, educational institutions, markets, shops, business establishments as well as the state and Central government offices remained closed due to the bandh.
Besides, the agitating lawyers have been resorting to cease-work since November 19 over the demand.
On the other hand, vehicular movement in five districts – Sambalpur, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Sonepur and Sundargarh – was badly hit, causing severe inconvenience for the commuters.
Hundreds of vehicles remained stranded along the national and state highways. However, emergency services have been excluded from the ambit of the bandh.
Similarly, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) cancelled at least 12 trains while 10 were diverted in view of the ‘rail roko’.
A large number of commuters were left stranded at several places due to disruption of train services and non-plying of passenger buses.
While lawyers’ associations of several districts, including the Sambalpur District Bar Association, took active part in the bandh, bar associations of Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir, Rourkela and Bargarh refrained from it.
Trade unions, farmers’ outfits, civil societies and several social and cultural organisations also extended their support for the bandh.
“The longstanding demand of a permanent High Court bench in western Odisha must be met without further delay and both the state and the Centre governments should take quick steps in this regard,” Mishra added.
Meanwhile, the Bolangir Bar Association has decided to launch a separate agitation for setting up the High Court bench in Bolangir and called for a bandh in the district December 3.
Auto drivers rake in moolah during strike
Jharsuguda: Taking advantage of the Mahabandh, auto-rickshaw drivers charged a hefty amount.
The rickshaw drivers charged anything from Rs 500-1,000 per person to drop them from railway station and other major junctions. Similarly, if a person hires an air conditioned car from Jharsuguda to Sambalpur, the price would be around Rs 1,200.
As trains were terminated at Jharsuguda railway station, the passengers travelling towards Sambalpur, Burla and Bargarh had to face a lot of problems. As all four-wheelers were shut down, many people offered to drop people by their bikes and charged excess fees.
Many drivers could be seen negotiating with passengers at railway stations. Left with no option, the passengers were forced to shell out a hefty amount to go to their destination. The distance from Jharsuguda to Sambalpur is 51 km and a passenger has to pay Rs 40 as one way bus fare. If a person travels by a local passengers train, it cost around Rs 15, Rs 30 by express train and Rs 45 in the general class of a super fast train. However, they had to pay Rs 400-500 for the same.
“I arrived from Howrah Friday morning as the Howrah-Jagadalpur Samleswari Express got terminated at Jharsuguda railway station. I was forced to pay Rs 1,000 for a biker ride to Burla because I wanted to reach home as soon as possible,” a passenger said.
“I was offered Rs 4,000 to take a passenger and drop him at Angul but I declined as it is very far. Instead, I took another passenger to Sambalpur for Rs 1,000 as that was much nearer,’’ said another auto rickshaw driver.
PNN
