Normal life hit in Odisha’s Muniguda as town observes 12-hour bandh protesting NAC snub

Normal life was severely affected in Muniguda town of Rayagada district on Wednesday as a few organizations observed a 12-hour bandh protesting the Odisha government’s decision to exclude the town from the list of newly declared Notified Area Councils (NACs).

The bandh, called by the NAC Milita Kriyanusthan Committee and Muniguda Pragati Manch, began at 6 AM on Wednesday brought the entire town to a standstill. 

Shops, markets, schools, government and private offices remained closed while vehicular movement was completely disrupted. The protestors expressed strong resentment over the government’s decision, demanding that Muniguda be immediately granted NAC status, citing the town’s growing population and civic needs.

The shutdown also hit transport services, as road connectivity between Muniguda and neighbouring states of Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, along with adjoining districts of Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Gajapati, was completely snapped. Commuters faced major inconvenience as buses and private vehicles stayed off the roads throughout the day.

However, emergency services were exempted from the bandh call, ensuring that hospitals and essential utilities functioned without disruption.

Though the bandh was observed peacefully, the protestors warned of intensifying their agitation if the government fails to address their demand for the NAC status.