Andhra Sets Eye On Hilltop Villages Of Odisha’s Koraput

Koraput: Continuing its alleged intrusion bid in Kotia panchayat of Odisha’s Koraput, neighbouring Andhra Pradesh has now set its sight on two hilltop villages under Semiliguda block of the district.

For the last five years the Andhra Pradesh government has been trying to lure the people of K Ambaguda and T Ambaguda of Sadam panchayat by providing water to them. On the other hand, the drinking water project, which has been set up by the Odisha government, is lying defunct, sources said.

Taking advantage of the situation, the neighbouring state is trying to win support of the people, locals claimed.

K Ambaguda and T Ambaguda villages, 30 km from the block headquarters, share borders with Andhra Pradesh. These villages have been facing drinking water shortage for years. The only sources of water for over 80 families in the two villages are a tube well and a mountain stream. To meet their drinking water needs, the residents had pleaded with the district administration, but no concrete step has so far been taken.

On the other hand, the Andhra Pradesh government got a water tank built by Vishakhapatana Samaj Kalyan Sanstha Naba Nirman Samiti and Bangalore-based Infosys Foundation at K Ambaguda in 2018.

The project lifts water from a pond and supplies it through pipes to people.

While five years have passed since the drinking water project was put in place by Andhra Pradesh, the project being executed by the Odisha government has been left halfway.

The block administration has set up a solar-powered tube well at K Ambaguda.

According to Semiliguda BDO, a drinking water project was launched at a cost of Rs 2 lakh at K Ambaguda two year ago. The administration has given approval for three more solar-powered projects in the area, he added.