Protest Rally in Sundargarh: BJD Leaders Unite for Environmental Justice and People's Rights
Sundargarh | 11 June 2025
A massive protest rally was held today in Sundargarh, led by Shri Jogesh Kumar Singh, Honourable MLA, Sundargarh, drawing a crowd of over 10,000 enthusiastic Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supporters from Sundargarh, Talsara, and Rajgangpur Assembly Constituencies. The demonstration was organized to voice strong opposition against the undemocratic arrest of Shri Singh and several villagers of Barpali in Hemgir block, as well as to highlight the alarming pollution and disruption caused by unregulated coal siding and railway operations in the region.
The protest meeting saw the presence of several senior BJD leaders and MLAs, including:
Shri Niranjan Pujari,Dr. Arun Kumar Sahoo,Shri Mangala Kisan (Ex-MP), Shri Sarada Prasad Nayak,
Shri Braja Kishor Pradhan,Smt. Snehangini Chhuria (Ex-MLA),Shri Rohit Joseph Tirkey,Shri S Haripal, Shri R.R. Biswal, Smt. Barsha Singh Bariha
Sushree Deepali Das (Ex-MLA)
Also present were senior members of the BJD’s Women Wing, Student Wing, and prominent district-level leaders, all united in their demand for justice and environmental accountability.
Following the meeting, the BJD delegation formally submitted a detailed memorandum to the Collector and District Magistrate, Sundargarh, addressed to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha. The memorandum strongly condemned the arrest of the MLA and peaceful protestors, calling it a violation of democratic rights and participatory governance.
Key issues raised in the memorandum include:
Rampant pollution and public health hazards caused by unregulated coal-laden truck movement and railway siding operations in Barapali and surrounding areas.
Violation of Gram Sabha resolutions and lack of proper environmental clearances before project implementation.
Disruption of education and transport, particularly endangering school children and the elderly.
Marginalisation of local transport operators in favour of outside contractors, leading to economic distress and rising unemployment.
The BJD leaders demanded immediate cessation of the coal siding operations, a judicial inquiry into the arrests, enforcement of environmental safeguards, and prioritization of local youth in coal transport contracts.
They also proposed the formation of a tripartite dialogue mechanism involving villagers, the administration, and industrial stakeholders to chart a sustainable path forward.
Shri Jogesh Kumar Singh, addressing the crowd, thanked the people of Sundargarh for their unwavering support and reiterated his commitment to fighting for the dignity and rights of his constituents. He remarked, "This is not just a fight for Sundargarh—it’s a fight for every rural citizen whose voice has been silenced in the name of development."
The protest concluded peacefully, with the memorandum officially handed over to the District Collector. Party workers hailed the event as a grand success, marking it as a significant moment in the district’s ongoing struggle for environmental justice and democratic accountability.
Sanjay Pattnayak
Sundargarh
