Odisha has successfully foiled Andhra Pradesh’s encroachment attempt to take possession of Odisha land and a few villages under its revenue jurisdiction in the bordering areas in Gajapati district.
In a recent incident, AP Government employees made an unauthorised attempt to enter Odisha villages under Rayagada block in Gajapati district and started some development works like drinking water supply, electricity connection to woo Odia villagers.
The AP Government left no stone unturned to forcibly include Odisha villagers in panchayat election processes. Even, some Odisha villagers had filed their nominations to contest the elections at the persuasion of the AP administration. After several rounds of motivation and intervention by the Gajapati district administration, persons who had filed nominations withdrew their candidatures.
For quite a long time, the AP administration has been making several attempts to woo Odisha villages to take them to their side. The recent attempt to illegally encroach villages like Manikapatna, Gudikhudi, Madhikhol, Amaring, Akhada and Bursing of Gangabad in Gajapati district is an eye opener for the Odisha Government. That’s the reason the Odisha Government has started some development activities in the area. The Government has sanctioned Rs 5.46 crore for road construction between Gangabada and Champapur with a target to complete it by December 2021. Both district administration and State Government are working in tandem to extend health and education facilities besides upgrading facilities available nearby. These initiatives would surely help the people living in bordering areas, said a senior Odisha Government official.