Bhawanipatna(Swaraj Agrawal) : Following the announcement by the Odisha Government regarding the formation of new administrative blocks, demands have intensified across the state for recognizing various regions as independent blocks. In this context, youth leader Arabinda Sahu,along with local representatives and residents, submitted a memorandum addressed to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha through the District Collector, demanding the declaration of Pastikudi as a new block.The demand includes the existing Pastikudi Gram Panchayat and 13 adjacent panchayats.Notably, this demand is not new.Since 1993,under the leadership of the late Sheshadev Sahu, former Block Chairman, the people of the region have consistently called for the recognition of Pastikudi as a block. However, due to the lack of block expansion policies at that time, the proposal remained unaddressed.Now,with the government’s fresh initiative to announce new blocks, the residents of Pastikudi have renewed their long-standing demand.The demand has garnered wide support from various stakeholders including the sarpanches of Thuapadar,Karlaguda,Palsijharan, Chahagaon(from Bhawanipatna block) and Pastikudi,Adhamunda,Phatkamal, Nasigaon,Chancher,Gokulsar,Degaon, Dadpur(from Kesinga block),along with two Zilla Parishad members, two former block chairpersons, and hundreds of local citizens.Prominent supporters of the movement include Santosh Rana, Surendra Bemal,Gyanendra Meher, Upendra Meher,Himanshu Gouda, Deepak Das,Jitendra Rana,Bishnu Sahu, Kishan Sahu,Manu Rana,Aditya Barik, Nikhil Sahu and many other local intellectuals who have actively contributed to the cause.According to District Administration Letter No.507, dated March 31, 2025,the demand will be taken into consideration during the ongoing block formation process.
