12-hr bandh in Jeypore demands revival of paper mill

Koraput: Normal life was disrupted in Jeypore town on Thursday as the BJD observed a 12-hour bandh from 6 am to 6 pm, demanding the reopening of Jeypore Paper Mill, which has remained shut for over a year. Shops, business establishments and markets remained closed during the bandh, while vehicular movement came to a standstill on NH-26 passing through the town. Emergency services, however, were exempted from the shutdown. Jeypore Paper Mill, popularly known as Sewa Paper Mills unit of Ballarpur Industries Limited (BILT), was established at Jeypore in 1980. Over the years, the ownership of the unit changed hands several times and production had remained irregular for the past several years before the mill was completely shut down in March 2025. BJD leaders and supporters staged demonstrations and picketing at key junctions, urging the govt to take immediate steps for the mill’s revival. The protest witnessed participation of a large number of party workers and local residents.Former minister Rabi Narayan Nanda said the reopening of the mill was crucial for the economic survival of thousands of families in the region. “Nearly 10,000 people are directly and indirectly dependent on the paper mill for livelihood. The prolonged closure has pushed many families into financial distress. The govt must take concrete steps to revive the industry at the earliest,” Nanda said.He further alleged that despite repeated demands from locals and various organisations and personally approaching chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, no effective initiative had been taken for the reopening of the unit.Meanwhile, BJP leader Goutam Samantaray criticised the bandh call and accused the BJD of indulging in political drama over the issue.“The BJD ruled Odisha for over two decades, and during its tenure, no sincere effort was made to ensure the long-term revival of the paper mill. Now, they are trying to mislead people through bandh politics. The present govt is committed to industrial revival and sustainable development in the region,” Samantaray said.Police personnel were deployed at sensitive locations to maintain law and order during the bandh. No untoward incident was reported till evening.