Bhubaneswar, Dec. 30 -- Villagers staged a road blockade near the Mitkundri bridge in Rourkela on Tuesday, alleging large-scale environmental damage and public nuisance caused by picnic activities in the area.

Hundreds of local residents, led by village representatives, took to the streets to protest against the increasing number of picnics, claiming that the activities are damaging agricultural land, polluting the surroundings and disrupting daily life.

According to villagers, picnickers, mostly from outside the area, leave behind glass bottles, plastic plates and other waste after consuming alcohol. Locals alleged that the discarded materials often end up in nearby farmlands, posing risks to farmers, agricultural labourers and livesto...