Bhubaneswar: Opposition has intensified in Odisha’s Jharsuguda district over a proposed mosque and madrasa project in Badbahal area under Kolabira tehsil, with local villagers repeatedly approaching the administration and demanding that the project be halted.
Over the past few days, residents from several nearby villages have come together to voice their objections, submitting memorandums to the local authorities. The villagers have raised concerns over the necessity of such a project in the area, citing the relatively small population of the concerned community in the locality.
According to available information, a trust has initiated the process of obtaining administrative approval for the construction of a madrasa and mosque in the Badbahal area. However, many locals argue that given the demographic composition of the region, there is little need for such a religious and educational institution.
On May 2, villagers from Badbahal submitted a written complaint addressed to the Kolabira Tehsildar. In the memorandum, they alleged that the trust had begun the process of establishing a religious educational institution without adequately considering local requirements. They also expressed apprehension regarding the background of certain individuals associated with the project, suggesting that it could potentially disturb the peace and communal harmony of the area.
Villagers warned that if the project proceeds against the will of the local population, it may lead to law-and-order issues in the future. The memorandum was submitted under the banner of Samasingha Pragati Sangh and was received by Additional Tehsildar Kaushik Meher in the absence of the Tehsildar. Several prominent local figures were present during the submission, including organisation president and advocate Manoj Kalo, secretary Prakash Sahu, former sarpanch Dularam Senapati, Karunakar Seth, social workers Birendra Mahapatra and Dwibendu Das, among others.
The protest gained further momentum on May 4, when hundreds of villagers from different parts of Kolabira block gathered and submitted another memorandum to the administration. This memorandum specifically referred to a piece of land located in Ward No. 10 of Kolabira village (Khata No. 480 and Plot No. 639/1108), where construction activities related to the mosque and madrasa are reportedly underway.
Villagers stated that the area has historically maintained peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths, and they fear that external intervention could disrupt this balance. Some villagers also raised concerns that the madrasa could be used to influence Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities, though these claims remain unverified.
Additionally, questions have been raised regarding the source of funding for the proposed construction. Locals have demanded greater transparency, alleging that the financial backing of the project is unclear and warrants scrutiny. They further claimed that there could be attempts to create unnecessary tension in an otherwise peaceful region.
Another point of concern highlighted by the villagers is the proximity of the proposed construction site to prominent religious places, including Jagannath Temple, Hanuman Temple, and Samaleswari Temple. They argued that the presence of a mosque in the vicinity might affect the existing religious atmosphere of the area.
The villagers have urged the administration to conduct a fair and impartial inquiry into the project, including verification of funding sources, background checks of the trust members, and an assessment of the actual need for such a facility in the area. They have also requested that all approval processes related to the project be put on hold until the investigation is completed.
Among those present during the submission of the memorandum were Jhirlapali Sarpanch Tilottama Chanchan, Paramanpur Sarpanch Jahnavi Pradhan, along with Vinod Patel, Latika Sahu, Gajendra Kisan, and several other villagers.
With tensions rising and public sentiment growing stronger, all eyes are now on the district administration and its next course of action regarding the proposed project.
