In the mid-1970s when a conflict between the local tribals and the migrated people of Bangladesh was at its peak and the Bengali-speaking settlers of the Dandakaranya area comprising parts of Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabrangpur districts had started fleeing out of fear, Pyarimohan Mohapatra was appointed as the Chief Administrator of the Dandakarayna Project.
Having powerful administrative skill, Mohapatra had not only put an end to the tension in the area but played a powerful role in its development.
Being an Odia administrator and having a strong work skill, he quickly understood the problem of the locals and worked according to that. He at that time had proposed the Union Government to distribute at least 25 per cent of the land, identified to be distributed among the migrant Bengalis, to the tribals. The Centre had readily accepted the proposal, whereas the move endeared the tribals with the administration.
The Bengali migrants who had left the area fearing attack from the tribals too returned to Dandakarayna, said Council of Analytic Tribal Studies (COATS) secretary PC Mohapatra.
Due to efforts of Pyarimohan, the Poteru irrigation project in Malkangiri had started and many more development projects could successfully take off. He was the backbone behind the development of the Sabara Srikhetra which is also known as the second Puri. Mohapatra was the temple managing committee president since 1977 till his death. The temple construction works had finished in the 90s. He is always remembered by the people of the undivided Koraput district for being close to the people. Mohapatra even had declared Koraput as his second home and also closely associated with the temple. He was a native of Dhenkanal district though.
After the sad demise of Mohapatra, many local organisations and temple authority condoled his death and a special puja was organised in the temple premises for the departed soul. BJD leader Mitu Panigrahi, a local of Koraput, said Pyari Mohapatra would always be remembered for his pro-tribal works.