Rourkela tribals oppose municipal corporation status

ROURKELA: Tribals, under the banner of Sundargarh Adivasi Mulabasi Banchao Sangha (SAMBS), staged a demonstration in front of newly-announced Rourkela Municipal Corporation, demanding withdrawal of notification giving corporation status to Rourkela Municipality.
Biramitrapur MLA George Tirkey, who led the demonstration, said this is the last warning to the state government.
"We have been protesting against the corporation status to Rourkela Municipality since the beginning," Tirkey said.
"According to provisions of Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas Act), 1996, Sundargarh being a scheduled district there should be no municipal corporation. If the government does not withdraw the notification, we will be forced to take law into our hands," Tirkey warned.
The protesters shouted slogans against Naveen Patnaik government for being anti-tribal.
Work at Rourkela Municipal Corporation office came to a grinding halt since no one was allowed inside.
"We are trying to initiate talk with the protesters," said commissioner of the corporation Durga Mohapatra.
The locals first opposed inclusion of some rural areas, mainly Jhartarang panchayat, in the corporation. Later, SAMBS has been demanding withdrawal of the notification. On January 20 and 21, SAMBS staged an economic blockade, to press for its demand.
With civic elections due soon, this protest has become a headache for the district administration.