Despite the Supreme Court’s advice to resolve the border issues between Odisha and its neighbouring state Andhra Pradesh amicably, the latter is still resorting to inducement tactics to establish their hold over Kotia.
Recently, the Andhra Pradesh police stirred up the hornet’s nest again by conducting a public grievance redressal camp at Neradivalsa village under ‘Spandana’ programme.
The villagers demanded documents like ration cards, Aadhaar cards besides raising other issues of their locality at the camp. They were reportedly assured of speedy action by the Andhra Pradesh team.
Also Read
According Andhra Pradesh police sources, their state government has started the programme to ensure that the villagers will be benefited with the government’s welfare schemes.
“The public grievance redressal camp at Neradivalsa village was successful. Such camps will continue on every Monday,” said a police official.
It is worth mentioning that on August 31, the Supreme Court had advised the governments of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh to resolve the border dispute involving Kotia region by engaging in bilateral discussions.
The Constitutional bench comprising Justice Ajay Khanwilkar and Justice Sanjiv Khanna had granted a period of six weeks to both the states to hold political discussions and resolve the issue through talks at the political level.
Earlier on February 10 this year, the Odisha government had knocked the doors of the Supreme Court seeking contempt of court proceedings against the Andhra Pradesh government over Kotia border dispute.
Kotia dispute is a long pending border issue between Andhra Pradhesh and Odisha. Both the states have been claiming sovereign rights over the area, which consist of 27 small tribal hamlets on the border.