Andhra Govt Resumes Road Construction Work Inside Odisha Territory

Paralakhemundi: People of Khinga village in Odisha’s Gajapati district have expressed resentment over construction of a road in their village by the Andhra Pradesh government.

Notably, the Koraput district administration had stopped road construction work by the Andhra Pradesh government in the bordering villages of Kotia, Gudikhudi and Madhiakhola villages.

After some days, the Andhra Pradesh government had begun construction of road at Khinga village in Gajapati district. After the news was flashed in the print and electronic media, the district administration had stopped the construction work and put up the sign board of Odisha after measurement of the boundary. However, the neighbouring state has again resumed the road construction work by laying metals on the road which has triggered resentment among villagers.

“Though the Odisha government has put up its sign board on the border, the Andhra Pradesh government continues the construction work which is an act of ‘goondaism’. It is the responsibility of the Odisha government, the district administration and the people of Gajapati district to stop such illegal activities,” president of Gajapati Bar Association Ramnath Mishra told mediapersons on Tuesday.

Expressing grave concern over the incident, Bibhuti Bhusan Behera, a local of Khinga village, said this is an inter-state border dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. “The manner in which the Andhra Pradesh government is taking up the road construction work inside the territory of Odisha is deplorable. The people of Gajapati district will not tolerate such high-handedness anymore and will take to the streets against the neighbouring state and the failure of the Odisha government which is not able to stop such illegal activities,” he added.

“We will take up the matter with the Andhra government and ask them to stop its illegal construction,” Kasinagar tehsildar Ayub Mandal told the media.