In a fresh ploy to influence public opinion in Kotia panchayat of Odisha, the Andhra Pradesh government is facilitating the installation of two mobile towers in the region.
As per reports, a private mobile service provider is installing two towers; one at Uparasembi village and the other one at Haramadangi village in Kotia, reportedly with assistance from the Andhra Pradesh government.
While the base foundation for the erection of the tower is already completed at Uparasembi, roads are being constructed by cutting hills near Haramadangi for the installation of another tower.
“Andhra is helping install a Jio mobile tower in our village. We do not have cellular reception in here. This tower will definitely help us communicate,” said a local of Kotia.
Asked about the tower, a college student of the area said, “We at Uparasembi village have to trek to the top of the hill in Kotia to get faint mobile reception. But with this installation by Andhra Pradesh, our lives are hopefully going to be easier.”
Even as the border dispute with Andhra Pradesh is yet to be resolved, the neighbouring state at times stokes controversy by making encroachment bids on Odisha side.
Recently, Andhra had encroached upon the area near the main reservoir of the Machkund Hydroelectric Project at Jalaput in Koraput district. As per reports, to bolster their encroachment and presence in the area, Andhra officials removed the signboards put up by the Collector of Odisha's Koraput district and the authorities of the Machkund Hydroelectric Project in the area and threw them away. Moreover, officials of the neighbouring state also removed the welcome signboard put up near the dam.