Addressing newspersons here today, the PCC chief informed that the Congress party is committed to the establishment of the Western Orissa Development Council (WODC) and the Bill in this connection is pending before the legislature, Biswal told reporters here.

Biswal, who belongs to the undivided Sambalpur district in Western Orissa, said that the concept of WODC had been mooted for the all-round development of the region.

The demand for the separate Koshal state was being made periodically by political leaders and organisations who alleged that the western districts had remained underdeveloped and neglected with political leadership from coastal Orissa cornering all the benefits.

If the select committee, which is examining it now clears the Bill, it will be definitely passed in the ensuing budget session of the legislature, hesaid. The Independent MLA from Bolangir district, Balgopal Mishra, who is a strong supporter of Koshal state idea, hit out against political leaders, hailed from western region, who did not approve of the demand.

Claiming that there was a growing demand for a separate state, Mishra told reporters here last night that it was regrettable that the newly elected MP and some legislators of Bolangir district had failed to see the writing on the wall.

The newly elected BJP MP, Sangeeta Singhdeo had opposed the separate state idea saying Orissa was not a big enough state to be bifurcated.

The Rajya Sabha MP (Janata Dal), Sanatan Bisi of Sambalpur, the leader of JD group in Assembly, Narasingh Mishra BJD MLA, A U Singhdeo and BJP MLA, Kanak Vardhan Singhdeo had, on the other hand, supported establishment of an autonomous WODC.

Biswal also announced that a reshuffle in the state ministry would be effected after the by-polls scheduled on June 3 next. The PCC chief said that there would be organisationalrestructuring at the state, district and block levels after the by-polls. He said, he has taken up the matter with the party High Command.

Biswal also announced that the OPCC would monitor the functioning of the State government henceforth. Biswal said transparency would be taken into account and also hinted that ministers with corrupt images would be dropped.