It is high time for chief ministers of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh to meet and discuss the long standing dispute over the ownership of 21 villages in Kotia panchayat , said Congress MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati. It may be noted that the dispute came to the fore recently when officers of Andhra Pradesh visited Kotia panchayat, distributed warm cloths as part of their janmabhoomi programme.

The Koraput distirct aministration was caught unaware and had no information. Last week Odisha government reacted by putting up a check gate to monitor entry of people to the area.While Odisha government seems to be dealing with it as a administrative dispute , people on the border near Kotia and elsewhere were getting attracted towards Andhra Pradesh for various reasons including the benefits , Jayaram Pangi , former MP of Koraput said .

However among all the issues the large scale difference in the approaches by the two neighbouring states was something  to be worried about.  While communities like Konda Dora , Noka Dora , Rona, Mali etc were given the status of scheduled tribe in Andhra Pradesh, people from the same community on this side of the border were deprived of the benefit and this was one of the greatest reasons why these communities
were eagerly longing to shift at their affinity towards Andhra Pradesh despite of several measures taken by Odisha government , Mr Pangi added .Lack of accessibility to facilities like education , health and proper road communication had further added to the issue , Gadadhar Parida , former district collector, Koraput said . The hanging bridge at Madkar was built when he was the district collector of Koraput which could join several villages then in the panchayat for making life better in the region.

But the bridge was washed away after a couple of years and was needed to be taken care of on a priority basis. Land Pattas under Forest Right Act were given to 945 household in the region till date.Now it was the time to facilitate them to identify the given land for use.Further, over the years for various reasons people in these disputed villages had lost confidence on the governance in this side of the border and hence all measures that could rebuild their confidence were to be given priority.

Gupta Prasad Das , former MLA and ruling BJD member said the government was equally concerned in adding more value to the life of people in the region. Various measures were in progress in building faith of the people in sectors including health , education on a priority basis.Bus services have been introduced in Kotiya panchayat of Odisha’s Koraput district where the state government is embroiled in a dispute with Andhra Pradesh over ownership of several villages.

Commencement of the passenger bus service on Friday was part of the administration’s exercise to strengthen infrastructure in the panchayat situated in Pottangi block on the Deomali hill range, said an official.“Apart from providing better transportation to the local people, the service will boost tribal economy,” said Krutibas Rout, Sub-Collector of Koraput.Villagers say movement of people from villages in the Kotiya panchayat will augur well for the socio-economic development of the tribals.The administration has also erected a check post at Taupadar village, which is on the road leading to Kotiya to check entry of Andhra Pradesh people into Kotiya, said additional block development officer.