Tourists suffer due to Konark bandh in Odisha

Konark: A large number of tourists flocking the world heritage site Konark suffered here today due to 24-hour shutdown observed by the protestors demanding permanent redressal of land disputes.

The members of Bhusurakhya Kriyanusthan Committee staged road blockade on different routes connecting the main road to the Sun Temple in Konark disrupting the vehicular movements.

The Konark temple, which is prescribed by UNESCO as the world heritage monument, registers thousands of tourists every day. However, with the shutdown, the site remained off for the tourists since morning.

The bandh also hit normal life in the area as the vehicles were off the roads. The shops and commercial establishments remained closed at the tourist destination due to the protest.

The committee called for Konark bandh demanding the authorities to address the land disputes that have been a major issue for the locals in the past decades.

According to reports, the government has declared the land in 10 mouzas on outskirts of Konark temple as ‘not final’ since 1980s. As a result, the locals have been facing trouble in purchase or sale of land and the students are deprived of obtaining various documents required for different official purposes.