Bhubaneswar, Sep 10: Amid rising public demonstrations across various regions of Odisha demanding Notified Area Council (NAC) status, Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra has called for constructive dialogue over agitation.

Responding to the ongoing protests, Mahapatra emphasized that solutions are best achieved through discussion, not disruption or protests.

“It’s encouraging that people are showing interest in urbanization,” the Minister stated, “but progress must be based on proper criteria and consultation.”

He noted that urban areas offer better access to education, healthcare, and transportation, which naturally attracts migration. However, he acknowledged that Odisha lags behind in urbanization compared to national standards — while the national urbanization rate stands at 32-34%, Odisha remains at just 17%, even lower than neighbouring states like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

To address this gap, the state government is actively reviewing urban expansion strategies. Over the past 14 months, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced the formation of 14 new NACs, 7 Municipal Councils, and the elevation of Puri to a Municipal Corporation. Mahapatra assured that more announcements are forthcoming, but emphasized that such decisions cannot be rushed.

“All proposals are being evaluated based on established benchmarks,” he said. “Wherever the need and criteria align, NAC status will be granted.” He also clarified that objections raised by certain groups were duly considered before finalizing the new designations. The Panchayati Raj Department has translated local data and forwarded it to the Urban Development Department for final review.