The Opposition cornered the Odisha Government over the border dispute issue with Andhra Pradesh and other States in the State Assembly on Wednesday.
The BJP and the Congress, which raised the issue trough an Adjournment Motion, blamed the State Government for neglecting the people in Kotia panchayat, where the Andhra Pradesh Government held panchayat elections recently. Leader of Opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik (BJP) said Odisha has border disputes with four States over 96 villages. “We don’t see any action by the State Government to resolve the issues. In Kotia panchayat, the dispute is over 21 villages. We had visited the area. There are no basic facilities, including roads and drinking water,” said Naik. He said Kotia people are having multiple ration cards and availing benefits from both Odisha and Andhra. The villagers are alienating themselves from Odisha as the State Government has neglected them.
Opposition Chief Whip Mohan Charan Majhi (BJP) said that due to negligence and lack of foresight by the Odisha Government, neighbouring States are intruding into the Odisha territory.
Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati said the ruling BJD is only concerned about the party’s interests. “Under the BJD rule, the State’s land and water are not safe. An all-party meeting should be called to discuss the issue,” said he. Congress MLA Suresh Routray questioned the intention of the State Government and the Chief Minister. “What were the Chief Minister and the Home Secretary doing when Andhra Pradesh held rural polls in the Kotia area? We all should visit the area under the leadership of the Chief Minister and address their issues,” he suggested.
Replying to the adjournment motion debate, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Sudam Marndi informed that Odisha has border dispute with four States in seven districts, Koraput, Baleswar, Mayurbhanj, Ganjam, Gajapati, Keonjhar and Nuapada.On the Kotia issue, the Minister said the State Government has filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against Andhra Pradesh.
While the Andhra Pradesh Government has submitted an affidavit on the matter on February 17, the Odisha Government has sought four weeks’ time from the court to submit its counter-affidavit, the Minister said.