Ahead of the three-tier Panchayat elections people of Kujang and its adjoining villagers have reiterated their demand of Notified Area Council (NAC) status to Kujang.People from all walks of life including social activists, educationists and political leaders irrespective of party affiliations have pressed for the longstanding demand. Sources informed that the demand is about two decades old. The locals have been drawing the attention of the Government several times, and political leaders during elections have been promising people of fulfilling it. But ironically no major step has yet been taken in this direction as yet, rued renowned Kujanga based poet Pitambar Tarai. He also alleged that politicians are using NAC status issue as a political plank during elections for the sake of winning it. The proposed NAC recognition to Kujang is to include four villages as Balarampur, Kothiasahi, Nabadia and Kujang besides its township with a combined population of about 10,000.
Sources informed that seven years ago the then the State Housing and Urban Development Minister Bikram Arukha during his trip to Paradip had halted at Kujang, accompanied by then Minister Damodar Rout.The Kujang Bar members, residents and social activists had presented a memorandum beforeMinister urging NAC status to Kujang. Minster Arukh promised to conduct a departmental inquiry and study the revenue generation and other requisites before NAC declaration. Sources added that in this regard Urban Development Department asked district administration, block development officer and Tehsildar, Kujang to look into the matter and furnish a report. However, it is alleged that officials failed to submit compliance report. Presently Jagatsinghpur district has two urban local bodies [ULBs] as Paradeep Municipality and Jagatsinghpur Municipality. If State Government considers giving ULB status to any area Kujang qualifies for purpose in the first place due to its growing development and massive urbanisation programmes, sources revealed.
