WODC's new headquarters to be finalised by September

Bhubaneswar, Mar 28 (UNI) Orissa Planning and Coordination Minister Padmanav Behera today announced that the new headquarters of the Western Orissa Development Council (WODC) will be fianlised by September end.

Mr Behera was forced to announce the dateline as the Opposition Congress sat on dharna, shouted slogan inside the well, forced a series of adjournments in the Assembly both during the pre-lunch and post-lunch session, demanding shifting of the WODC headquarters from Bhubaneswar to Western Orissa.

Pandemonium prevailed in the Orissa Assembly during the pre-lunch session as Congress Deputy Leader Narashingha Mishra led the protest inside the well of the house, demanding an assurance from the Minister on the shifting of headquarter.

The Minister, who was non-committal on the opposition demand, had stated that the decision on the shifting the headquarters would be taken only after the complete formation of the council which he said would take at least one month.

The agitated Opposition, however, remained adamant and forced the Deputy Speaker to adjourn the house for four times and finally for the lunch during a debate on the admissibility of an adjournment motion on the nomination of the MLAs to the WODC and misuse of funds.

The issued cropped up again during the post-lunch session as the Opposition trooped into the well of the House, raised slogan and obstructed the business of the house.

Deputy Speaker Prahallad Dora failed to restore order in the house and adjourned the Assembly several times to pacify the situation but in vain.

The Opposition finally withdrew the dharna after Mr Behera succumbed to their demand and announced in the house that the shifting of the headquarter, would be finalised by September.

Eds here pls pick up suitably from earlier series.

UNI