Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Tuesday asserted that the government is committed to protecting Odisha’s territorial integrity, and stressed that Kotia group of villages have been an integral part of the state.
Majhi stated this while responding to a letter from Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik regarding the long-standing inter-state boundary dispute over the Kotia group of villages in Koraput district.
In a letter the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, the Chief Minister said the Kotia group of villages had been an integral part of Odisha since the formation of the separate state in 1936. The letter was in response to Patnaik’s letter regarding the boundary dispute.
He said the former chief minister’s letter appeared to approach the sensitive issue from a political standpoint rather than focusing on constructive and legally tenable solutions.
Majhi emphasised that his government remained committed to safeguarding Odisha’s territorial interests through lawful and constitutional means.
Regarding the government’s efforts to accelerate development in Kotia and adjoining areas, he said priority had been given to improving public services, promoting inclusive growth and enhancing the well-being of locals.
A committee headed by the Revenue and Disaster Management Minister, comprising senior officials, has been constituted to oversee the integrated development of the Kotia Gram Panchayat areas, said Majhi.
The Revenue and Disaster Management Minister, along with other ministers and senior officials, has also been visiting the region to assess development needs and coordinate efforts for its overall progress, he said.
Emphasising the sensitive nature of the long-standing dispute, the Chief Minister called on all concerned to exercise restraint and responsibility and respect the judicial process.
He said his government would continue to defend Odisha’s territorial integrity before the appropriate legal and constitutional forums while ensuring the socio-economic development of people living in Kotia and neighbouring areas.
Majhi also invited the LoP to offer constructive suggestions for resolving the long-pending dispute, saying the proposals would be considered by the government.
The Kotia region has been at the centre of a boundary dispute between Odisha and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.