Sheragada, 20th Sept 2025: A meeting was held today at the Panchayat Hall in Sheragada, organized by the Bharatiya Bikash Parishad, to discuss the demand for granting Notified Area Council (NAC) status to Sheragada.
In the meeting, Surendra Panigrahi, a key representative of the Bharatiya Bikash Parishad, led the discussions regarding the NAC recognition. He pointed out that while the State Government has recently declared 9 new Panchayats as Notified Areas, it has deliberately overlooked Sheragada and Kukudakhandi, despite them meeting all the eligibility criteria as per legal and administrative standards.
🔍 Reasons Behind the Demand:
Sheragada and Kukudakhandi towns/villages meet the necessary benchmarks under:
Article 243(q) of the Indian Constitution
Odisha Municipality Act, 1950, and its 1994 amendments (Section 4)
These areas fulfill required standards in:
Demographics
Economic activities
Transportation
Education
Healthcare
Trade & Commerce
Population size
Urban-like characteristics
Despite fulfilling all these conditions, the State Government is allegedly showing discriminatory behavior by not granting NAC status to these areas, which became the central point of discussion in the meeting.
📢 Parishad’s Demands and Warning:
The Bharatiya Bikash Parishad (Odisha), along with local residents, strongly demanded the formation of a Notified Area Council (NAC) for Sheragada, including all its revenue villages.
They emphasized that if the State Government does not announce NAC status within 7 days, the general public will take to the streets in protest. If required, the Parishad will also approach the High Court to seek legal intervention for the recognition of Sheragada as a Notified Area Council.
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This movement reflects the growing sentiment among locals who believe Sheragada deserves administrative upgradation to match its socio-economic progress.