As the Odisha Government has decided to resolve all border disputes with neighbouring States through mutual understanding, it has approached the Andhra Pradesh Government to ensure a reasonable solution to the issue.
Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy has written to his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Nilam Sawhney requesting for a joint verification of the inter-State borderlines to reach a conclusive stage without any delay.
Official sources said Tripathy telephoned Sawhney recently regarding the Odisha-AP boundary dispute with respect to 21 villages, referred as the Kotiya group of villages, in Koraput district bordering Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh.
In an interlocutory order passed on December 2, 1968, the Supreme Court had directed that status quo be maintained by both States. Accordingly, the two States have given their consent to adhere to the status quo until it is verified by an appropriate authority in accordance of law.
Though this remains the legal position, there are, however, instances of violations, pointed out Tripathy to Sawhney. He brought to her notice that recently, another exampleof transgression was reported in Sunabeda hamlet of Sambai Mouza under Potangi tehsil of Koraput district.
Efforts were made by the Koraput district administration and the Revenue Divisional Commissioner, Southern Division, to resolve the issue.
“In fact, the Collector of Visakhapatnam district said the dispute will be resolved on the basis of the revenue map of both the States,” Odisha Revenue Minister Sudam Marndi had earlier informed the State Assembly while replying to an Adjournment Motion debate.
Tripathy has pointed out that a similar incident occurred in China-Kira-Bhadra villages under Narayanpatna tehsil of Koraput. He said that after the dispute occurred, the administrations of both bordering districts have agreed to a amicable resolution by taking up a joint demarcation of the boundary and fixing border pillars in the areas.
Tripathy said there are also some boundary disputes in 16 villages of Gajapati district bordering Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. Though a joint enquiry has been completed, reports are yet to be finalised.
In Ganjam district, boundary issues relate to 21 villages of Odisha bordering AP’s Srikakulam district, where joint enquires have not been conclusive.
Accordingly, Tripathy has requested Sawhney to issue appropriate orders to the field officers to agree to a joint verification of the borderline to fix pillars and posts to avoid any such dispute. This would ensure a reasonable solution to the issues, he pointed out.