No Info On Andhra Intrusion In Kotia, Odisha Minister Informs Assembly

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has no information on  intrusion by Andhra Pradesh in disputed Kotia Gram Panchayat in Koraput district, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Pramila Mallik said in the Assembly on Thursday.

In a reply to an unstarred question by Sundargarh MLA Kusum Tete, she said te district administration has no information about intrusion of Andhra Pradesh and distribution of ration and allowances by Andhra Pradesh officials in Kotia in 2021.

The minister further informed the House that the government is yet to get information about reported construction of roads in Kotia. The state government will take immediate action if something like this comes to light, she added.

The Minister’s answer created surprise in several circles as there have been reports about intrusion by Andhra Pradesh in Kotia which has been the bone of contention between the two states.

It may be noted that Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are engaged in a five-decade-long tussle over the ownership of Kotia. Both the states have been claiming their territorial control over the area since early 1960s. Officials of the two states were at loggerheads on many occasions in the past over the border row.