 "Deserted Jayadeb Bihar-Nandankanan Road during Odisha Bandh called by Congress party on Mahanadi water controversy in Bhubaneswar.")
"The traders have shut their establishments with the bandh observed during the day. Business turnover to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore was hit on Tuesday with the 12-hour stir. However, there was no formal directions from the association side", said Sudhakar Panda, general secretary, Federation of All Odisha Traders Association (FAOTA).
The traders have become aware of the issues that requires to pressure the government by closing the establishments for the greater cause of the state, he added.
Normal life was crippled in most parts of the state due to a dawn-to-dusk bandh called by Congress protesting the construction of dams on the upstream of the Mahanadi river in Chhattisgarh. The principal opposition party also demanded immediate intervention by the Centre to halt these projects.
Elaborate security arrangements were made to prevent any untoward incidents. More than 200 Congress supporters were detained in the twin cities of Bhuabaneswar and Cuttack.
Train services were also affected on Tuesday due to the bandh at different places in East Coast Railway jurisdiction. As a result most of the trains were controlled at different stations in view of the demonstrations at various places.
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As many as 21 mail express and four local passenger trains have been affected and controlled en route at different stations. However, four passenger trains have been cancelled from both the directions, while two others were short terminated.
Highways wore a deserted look as trucks and buses remained off the roads.
"The bandh has been completely successful in all the districts. We thank the people of Odisha for the resounding success of the bandh. Operations at mines and ports were paralysed. Running of trains were also affected by the bandh", said Prasad Harichandan, president, Odisha Congress Committee.
BJP, however, alleged the Congress sponsored bandh was aimed at misleading the people and cover up the party's infighting.
"The opinion of Congress is misleading and direction less as Congress is trying to cover up the party infighting, which is its first concern and not the interest of the state. The Chhattisgarh government is trying seriously to resolve the issue pertaining to the water of Mahanadi. We are hopeful that the state government will take the required steps, through debates, to resolve the issue. The bandh called by Congress is simply impacting the normal life in the state", Prithviraj Harichandan, senior BJP leader.
The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) too accused the Congress of misleading the people on the Mahanadi water row.
"The Congress party is clearly misleading the people of the state on the Mahanadi water row. They are trying to water down an important issue. Actually, the Congress is facing an internal leadership crisis and the bandh is an attempt to cover it up", said BJD spokesperson Shashi Bhushan Behera.
