Villagers block NH-126 during 12-hour bandh to protest rice mill construction in Sonepur

Residents of Langalkata village in Sonepur district staged a 12-hour road blockade on National Highway 126, connecting Dunguripali, Rampur, Binika, and Sonepur on Friday, protesting the construction of a rice mill near their locality.

The protest, which began at 6 a.m., is scheduled to continue until 6 p.m. near Langalkata Chhak, under the Dunguripali police limits in Odisha.

Villagers have raised strong objections to the establishment of the rice mill close to a medical facility under construction, citing potential health and environmental hazards. They claimed that the construction site is located less than 100 metres from the upcoming hospital building, and have demanded that authorities relocate the project to a safer distance.

A local resident said, “We are going to face several problems once the mill starts operating. It will affect nearby farmlands and the health of residents. With the hospital so close, more people may end up suffering from ailments rather than receiving treatment. The rice mill will attract many people from the outside, which will also likely pose a threat to the safety of our women.”

Authorities Yet to Respond to Grievances

As per reports, the villagers had submitted a memorandum to the Sonepur District Collector on October 15, urging the administration to halt the project. They claimed to have also raised the issue with officials from the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) and other authorities. 

“We had met the Collector and informed SPCB officials about our concerns, but no action has been taken so far,” another resident said.

Warning of Intensified Protest

As their demands remain unaddressed, the villagers said they were compelled to take their agitation to the main road. “If our concerns continue to be ignored, we will intensify the protest and extend the blockade for an indefinite period,” a villager warned.

Local authorities are yet to respond publicly to the villagers’ objections regarding the rice mill project.