About 25,000 farmers formed an 18 km-long human chain around Burla town near Sambalpur, Orissa to protest against the Orissa government's decision to provide water from the Hirakud reservoir to the upcoming industries. The human chain began from the Gandhi Minar on a hill-top at one end of the Hirakud dam and continued through Hirakud town, NH-6 crossing, Mahanadi river bridge, Burla town and Sambalpur University, before culminating at the Nehru Minar on another hill-top located at the other end of the dam. Farmers from the districts of Sambalpur, Bargarh, Balangir, Jharusuguda and Subarnapur joined the human chain with their family members.