Inter-state border disputes in 14 Odisha districts: Minister in Assembly

Odisha is grappling with inter-state border disputes involving at least 14 districts that share the boundaries with Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari said on Thursday in response to a query from MLA Ramesh Chandra Behera in Legislative Assembly during its Winter Session.

The districts are Balasore, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj.

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Significantly, the Kotia region in Koraput district has attracted considerable attention. Except the fringe villages coming under Kotia panchayat, the rest of the State is free from major border conflicts, the Revenue Minister remarked in a written statement.

In a move to cater to the developmental demands of the Kotia region, the Odisha government previously sanctioned a substantial budget of over Rs 108.53 Crore, which underscores the State’s dedication to resolving disputes and fostering growth in the region.

Worth mentioning, on September 3, 2024, the Congress demanded a statement from Chief Minister Mohan Majhi on neighbouring Andhra Pradesh’s ‘attempt’ to set up a hydropower project in Kotia, a disputed area along the border between the two states.

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Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam expressed concerns over alleged intrusion in the Kotia cluster of villages in Koraput district, during the Zero Hour of Assembly proceedings.

The Congress leader also claimed that several tribal villages in Kotia region could become inundated for ‘Andhra Pradesh’s proposed 1200 MW hydropower project’.