No info on Andhra's intrusion in Kotia: Odisha Minister in Assembly

The Odisha government has no information regarding any intrusion by neighbouring Andhra Pradesh in the disputed Kotia region of Koraput district, informed Revenue Minister Pramilla Mallick on Thursday.

While replying to an unstarred question by Sundargarh MLA Kusum Tete, Mallick today stated in the Odisha Assembly that there is no information with the district administration regarding the distribution of pension and ration cards in Kotia by the Andhra Pradesh government in 2021.

Apart from this the minister further informed that the government is yet to get information about the construction of roads in Kotia. The state government will take stern action if something like this happens, she added.

Also Read: Soil testing survey in disputed Kotia region of Koraput raises suspicion

The statements of the revenue minister have certainly raised several eyebrows as there have been several instances of intrusion by Andhra Pradesh in Kotia which has been the bone of contention between the two states.

It may be noted that both the administrative officials of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh were at loggerheads on a number of occasions in the past over the border row. The statements of the minister over Kotia and Andhra intrusion have sparked a debate in Odisha.

Also Read: Andhra Deputy CM visits village in Odisha's Kotia panchayat

(Reported by Jagdish Dash)