Andhra Intrusion: Odisha team to visit Kotia Today

KalingaTV News Network

Bhubaneswar: In view of the repeated intrusions by Andhra Pradesh officials in the Kotia area under Pottangi block of Koraput district, a high-level team of Odisha officials would visit the place today. The team would take stock of the situation at ground zero.

The team which is scheduled to visit Kotia cluster comprises of IG Sanjib Panda, Director (Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Ashok Kumar Nayak, Additional Secretary Sashadhar Nayak and Chief Engineer of Rural Development Department Ashutosh Mallick.

The team would make a thorough assessment of the moves made by Andhra Pradesh in Kotia cluster which comprises of as many as 21 villages and submit a report to the Odisha Government. The inspection would be made in the presence of Koraput Collector and SP.

The step was taken by the Odisha Government after its Andhra counterpart made moves to woo the villagers in Kotia last month by distributing blankets and solar lights among them. It also tried to include them under various social welfare schemes along with expediting efforts for Aadhaar card distribution.Much hue and cry erupted in the state following Andhra’s steps suspecting that the neighbouring state wants to take way Kotia from Odisha due to its vast mineral resources.

The State Revenue and Disaster Management Department has already formed an inter-departmental committee to probe the issue.

Around 21 villages under Kotia gram panchayat fall on the disputed zone between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh since 1956.