Digapahandi, 17th Sept 2025: The Bharatiya Bikash Parishad (BBP) has demanded that the Odisha State Government declare Digapahandi NAC (Notified Area Council) as a Municipality.
During a press conference held on Thursday at the local East Division Dak Bungalow, BBP President Surendra Panigrahi presented detailed facts and data supporting Digapahandi’s eligibility for municipality status. He cited the town’s infrastructure in areas such as education, healthcare, transportation, commerce, culture, presence of various subdivision-level government offices, sufficient population, and administrative importance.
Despite meeting all the necessary criteria, the state government continues to neglect Digapahandi, displaying what he described as a step-motherly attitude. He strongly criticized the government for this discrimination.
He proposed that Digapahandi Municipality should be formed by merging the following areas:
- Digapahandi
- Padmanabhpur
- Anangpur
- Rajpur
- Nabarangpur
- Chanchada Palli
- Bijay Padmanabhpur
- Shundi Palli
- Chudanga Pur
- Nua Malabhanja
- Laxminarayanpur
- Ramchandrapur
- Mangarajpur
- Chaitanyapur
- Bhimpur Shasan
He mentioned that a memorandum with signatures has already been submitted to the following authorities:
- Chief Minister of Odisha
- Chief Secretary
- Revenue Commissioner (Southern Division)
- Collector of Ganjam
- Minister of Urban Development
- Urban Development Secretary
Mr. Panigrahi warned that if the demand is not fulfilled, the Bharatiya Bikash Parishad will launch a mass movement and even approach the High Court to seek justice.
Notable attendees at the press conference included:
Advocate Gajanan Tripathy
BBP General Secretary Rajendra Dalabehera
Rabindra Nath Panigrahi
Krushna Chandra Panigrahi
Sridhar Reddy
K. Sudam, along with many other social workers.