Bhadrak, June 22, 2025: Residents and local organizations in Gopinathpur Gram Panchayat, under Bant Block in Bhadrak district, have urged the state government to bifurcate the panchayat into two separate entities during the ongoing panchayat reorganization process. The demand, spearheaded by the local voluntary organization CFWSD and the Jagatjyoti Mahila Mahasangha, highlights the panchayat’s vast geographical and demographic scope, which they argue necessitates division for better governance and service delivery.
Gopinathpur Gram Panchayat, one of the largest in the block, spans approximately 14 kilometers from Agarapada’s main square to Alliha village in Balasore district. It encompasses 11 revenue villages—Kandaba, Shrirampur, Sahupada, Markandpur, Tulipada, Panichhatra, Gopinathpur, Tajipur, Pahadpur, Badasandado, and Sanasandado—along with 19 wards. Additionally, areas like Amarsinghpur and Kalimegha in Sahupada and Sanasandado are considered equivalent to revenue villages. The panchayat faces logistical challenges, with villages like Pahadpur, Badasandado, Sanasandado, Panichhatra, Tulipada, Sanasahupada, and Kalimegha located far from the panchayat headquarters, compounded by natural barriers such as canals, drains, and agricultural fields.
According to the 2022 three-tier panchayat elections, Gopinathpur had 6,991 voters (3,670 male and 3,421 female). By the 2027 elections, the population is projected to exceed 12,000, with over 8,000 voters. The reorganization could see the total ward count surpass 25, based on voter numbers in wards like Sahupada (Wards 4 and 6), Gopinathpur (Ward 13), Pahadpur (Ward 17), Sanasandado (Ward 16), and Badasandado (Wards 14 and 15). Even if Agarapada becomes a Notified Area Council (NAC) and incorporates three wards from Kandaba and two from Shrirampur, the panchayat’s size, population, voter count, and geographical challenges justify its division.
Proponents argue that splitting Gopinathpur into two panchayats would enhance access to government schemes, improve service delivery, and foster grassroots development, ensuring equitable opportunities for residents. The state government is yet to respond to the proposal, but the demand reflects growing calls for administrative decentralization in the region.
(Reported by Chandini Mohanty)
