Even as the standoff between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh on claiming control over a group of villages in Kotia region is yet to resolve, the latter has once again triggered another massive controversy by adding 28 villages of the contentious panchayat of Koraput district in its newly demarcated map.
In a major administrative overhaul aimed at decentralisation of governance and balanced development, Andhra Pradesh on Monday created 13 new districts taking the total number of districts in the State to 26.
Andhra Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy launched the new districts in a virtual mode from his official residence. The new districts are Parvathipuram Manyam, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Anakapalli, Kakinada, Kona Seema, Eluru, NTR, Bapatla, Palnadu, Nandyal, Sri Satyasai, Annamayyia and Tirupati.
As per the new map released by the Andhra government, 28 villages and 12 other places of Kotia region has found place in the newly carved out Parvatipuram Manyam district. In Telugu, Manyam means backward region.
According to the plan formulated by the Andhra government, the formation of Parvatipuram Manyam district has paved the way for the bordering town of Parbatipuram to act as the new headquarters of Kotia region. The development means that the distance between Kotia and the district headquarters will now come to down to 60 kms as compared to previous 90 kms.
“The move by the government of the neighbouring State indicates its interest in the Kotia region. We have proposed Odisha government several times to form a development council in Kotia and launch special schemes for the region so that we can check the neighbouring State’s attempt to lure the locals. Kurmanath is likely to become the collector of the region and once he is empowered, Odisha might lose the administrative control over the region,” said Gadadhar Parida, former Collector of Koraput.
Reacting on the development, former MP Jayram Pangi said, “There is a conspiracy of Andhra behind the formation of the new district. The Manyam will be a tribal dominated district. There move aims to woo the residents of the region.”
Meanwhile, Tikai Gemel, Zilla Parishad member, Kotia said, “I don’t care about what moves Andhra takes because I know Kotia belongs to Odisha."
Echoing the same opinion, Kotia sarpanch Leo Gemel said, “Kotia belongs to Odisha. We will oppose Andhra if they attempt to include us in their State."