The State Government on Friday asserted in the State Assembly that neighbouring West Bengal would not be allowed to undertake any construction in the State’s soil.
Accordingly, the district Collector of the adjoining Baleswar district has been directed to take all possible legal steps not to allow the West Bengal Government to encroach upon any land or take up construction work within the territory under Odisha’s jurisdiction, said Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Surya Narayan Patro.
Making a statement in the House in response to a submission of ruling BJD Member Ananta Das, Patro assured that the Government would protect its border by any means.
Das on February 11 had alleged that the West Bengal Government was encroaching upon the State’s geographical area up to Udaypur village in Bhogarai tehsil of Baleswar district for constructing a wall.
However, Patro denied the report of any encroachment within Odisha border by the West Bengal Government. Quoting a report of an on-the-spot verification conducted by the Sub Collector of Baleswar, the Minister clarified that the wall was being constructed within the West Bengal Government’s land, about 182-foot away from Udaypur road.
But Das said the report submitted by the Government official was not based on fact and demanded the Minister to withdraw the statement.
Rubbishing the report of the Sub-Collector as not based on fact, the Bhograi MlA alleged that that the Sub Collector had not conducted any physical measurement and fixed the boundary.
Stating that the border dispute in the area exists since 1853, Das urged the Speaker to direct the Government for a fresh inquiry. The inquiry should be conducted by a high level official either by the Revenue Secretary or by the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), he said, adding that the Secretaries or the RDC of the concerned areas of both the States should meet and resolve the issue.