Bhubaneswar: With the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections drawing closer, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of Odisha made a significant announcement on Wednesday, unveiling the establishment of 22 new Notified Area Councils (NACs) across 20 districts of the state. Additionally, Bhanjanagar NAC in Ganjam has been elevated to Municipality status.
As per a release from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the newly designated NACs include Manamunda, Purunakatak, and Baunsuni in Boudh district, Loisingha and Sindhekela in Bolangir, Sohela in Bargarh, Baliapal and Khaira in Balasore, Dhamra in Bhadrak, Rasol in Dhenkanal, Narla and Madanpur Rampur in Kalahandi, Kujang in Jagatsinghpur, Bolagarh in Khurda, Sharankul in Nayagarh, Sakshigopal and Kakatpur in Puri, Rengali and Bamanda in Sambalpur, and Subalya, Ulunda, and Rampur in Sonepur district.
This expansion of local governance structures is in response to public demand and the increasing population, as well as the socio-economic development needs of the state. Chief Minister Patnaik expressed optimism regarding the newly formed councils, expecting them to actively contribute to the overall development of their respective regions.
Notably, last month, the Odisha government had announced the establishment of 35 new NACs in 20 districts, along with the creation of five new municipalities in four districts. Furthermore, existing NACs, including Boudhgarh in Boudh, Karanjia in Mayurbhanj, Kantabanji in Balangir, and Chhatrapur and Aska in Ganjam, have been upgraded to municipality status.
This move underscores the state government’s commitment to decentralized governance and grassroots development. By empowering local bodies, the government aims to ensure that communities have a greater say in matters concerning their own welfare and progress.
The elevation of Bhanjanagar NAC to Municipality status is particularly significant, reflecting the area’s growing urbanization and development needs. This change in status will provide the municipality with additional resources and administrative powers to address the evolving needs of its residents.
