Maps of separate Kosala state distributed in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Dec 18 : The Kosala Kranti Dal, a political party in Orissa which has been demanding separate statehood comprising 11 western districts, Friday distributed maps of its dream state to people.

The maps were distributed in the district headquarter of Bolangir, its president Pramod Mishra told IANS. He said the maps would also be distributed in other parts of the western region in the next few days. Bolangir town is 320 km from here.

Hundreds of students in Sambalpur, Bargarh and Bolangir towns boycotted classes and walked streets with posters and banners, and shouted slogans in favour of a separate state.

Mishra said his Dal has planned to launch a massive agitation in the coming days to press its demand. "We are going to demonstrate in Bhubaneswar in front of Raj Bhaban on Dec 23," he said.

The demand for separate state has picked up momentum in Orissa following the central government's decision to pave the way for a Telangana state in Andhra Pradesh.

The Kosala Kranti Dal wants a new state comprising the districts of Bargarh, Bolangir, Boudh, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Koraput, Nuapada, Sambalpur, Subarnapur and Sundergarh.

Known as the Kosala region, these districts suffer from poverty and backwardness, deaths due to malnutrition and high infant mortality rate.