Konark: Life was thrown out of gear in Konark area in Puri district this morning due to a 24-hour Konark bandh call given by Bhusurakhya Kriyanusthan Committee in protest to construction of the replica of the Sun Temple. The Committee also demanded redressal of all land related disputes of people living in the area.
While shops and other business establishments downed their shutters in view of the bandh starting from morning 6 AM, streets and market places wore a deserted look.
Commuters faced a tough time as bandh supporters resorted to road blockade by burning tyres at several key points in Konark area during the bandh. Road blockades were staged at Balikapileshwar Chhak on Konark-Puri road, near Raulapatna on Kakatpur-Konark road and near Bunei on Pipili-Konark road bringing the vehicular traffic in the area to a grinding halt.
Similarly, the Sun Temple remained inaccessible for tourists who reached Konark this morning as they were prevented by the bandh supporters from entering into its premise.
The Bhusurakhya Kriyanusthan Committee has appealed the administration to issue land records to residents of at least nine revenue ‘mouza’ in Konark area without further delay. It has also demanded a renowned sculptor’s pull out from second Konark construction plan in Odisha to avoid an intensified stir in the coming days.
Ms Kalinga