Paralakhemundi: In the wake of intrusion by the Andhra Pradesh government in the border areas of Odisha’s Gajapati district, the district administration has revved up measures to prevent the neighbouring state from taking up illegal activities.
A team of senior district officials led by the Gajapati sub-collector Rajanikanta Swain on Saturday visited Khinga village, and took up the border demarcation work with the help of revenue officials.
The Andhra Pradesh government has taken up the road construction work in the village.
“I found that the Andhra Pradesh government has encroached on 150 metres of land near Jharan Chhak in Gajapati district and is trying to put metals on the road. The work has been stopped. I have instructed the Revenue Officer and the tehsildar to stop the road construction work if it is resumed by the Andhra Pradesh government. I will inform the matter to the Gajapati collector who will inform his Andhra Pradesh counterparts about the matter after which appropriate action would be taken,” Swain told mediapersons.
After the news on illegal construction of road flashed in the print and electronic media, the district administration had stopped the construction work and put up the signboard of Odisha after measurement of the boundary. However, the neighbouring state resumed the road construction work by laying metals on the road, ttriggering resentment among villagers.
President of Gajapati Bar Association Ramnath Mishra said though the district administration has put up its signboard along the border, the neighbouring state continues with 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, he pointed out.
Expressing resentment, people of Khinga village said that the people of Gajapati district will not tolerate such high-handedness of the Andhra Pradesh government and will take to the streets protesting against such illegal activities.
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