Odisha MLA loses cool over delayed works, tears files in block meeting

Tension flared at a Panchayat Samiti meeting in Nuagaon block of Nayagarh district on Thursday after Daspalla MLA Ramesh Chandra Behera publicly expressed his anger over alleged stalled development projects by tearing official files and warning of protests if ‘pending works’ were not completed soon.

The dramatic incident unfolded during a routine review meeting of rural development activities chaired by block officials. The meeting, aimed at assessing the progress of ongoing schemes, turned stormy when the MLA questioned the slow pace of various infrastructure works in the block.

Eyewitnesses said that Behera, visibly agitated over what he termed ‘administrative inaction,’ slammed a pile of files before tearing them up in the presence of the Block Development Officer (BDO) and other officials.

‘Concerns Over Delayed Rural Projects’

The MLA reportedly demanded immediate action to revive incomplete works, warning that if the administration failed to respond, he would take the issue to the streets.

According to sources, several government-sanctioned development initiatives, including road construction, drinking water supply, and MGNREGA employment schemes, have been progressing slowly in Nuagaon and surrounding panchayats.

“Development work cannot be left hanging endlessly while the people suffer,” Behera was heard saying before walking out of the meeting. Video footage of the altercation, now circulating widely on social media, captures the tense atmosphere as block staff appeared caught off guard by the MLA's reaction.

“Several roads, bridges, and public welfare projects are way over a year and two past their deadlines. The concerned departments have been simply extending the project completion date but are themselves not aware of how far the progress has been made,” MLA Behera said in an interaction with the media. 

So far, the BDO of the Nuagaon block has not responded publicly to the incident, and district authorities are yet to issue a formal statement on the matter.