BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa Pradesh Youth Congress (OPYC) has warned that it will launch a statewide agitation if the State Government failed to check spread of cholera in the backward district of the State. In a statement, OPYC president Pradip Majhi criticised the State Government for its inaction even though 140 persons have died of cholera and more than 500 are affected by the disease in Rayagada, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Kalahandi and Koraput districts. Alleging that the State Government completely remained inactive in creating health infrastructure despite liberal assistance from the Centre under several schemes, Majhi said the State Government does not seem to bother even though people are dying of diarrhoea every year in some pockets of the State. Majhi alleged that the State Government had failed in its attempt to cover up the situation and had to admit the seriousness of the spread of cholera. While more than 800 persons died of cholera in KBK (undivided Koraput, Balangir and Kalahandi districts) region, the situation went out of control in Angul, Boudh, Ganjam, Koraput, Dhenkanal and Gajapati districts last year. More than 100 persons died of cholera in Kalahandi, Boudh and Mayurbhanj districts in 2009, he said. Blaming the State Government for the deteriorating situation, Majhi alleged that it had forgotten to provide health services to the people by remaining busy only with providing mines and water to industries. Majhi said the Health Department should initiate steps on a war footing to check cholera which has already taken the form of an epidemic in the backward tribal districts.