Bhubaneswar: Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, who conducted a comprehensive review of the Kotia issue in virtual mode, said that the state government is committed to safeguarding Odisha’s interests through legal and administrative steps.
The minister stressed on the urgent need to accelerate legal proceedings and reinforce Odisha’s administrative presence along the border region in Koraput district.
The Andhra Pradesh government recently issued a notification announcing panchayat elections in some areas under Kotia gram panchayat in Koraput’s Pottangi block.
“Maintaining peace, stability, and public trust in the Kotia region while protecting the state’s legal rights and public interest remains our utmost priority,” Minister Pujari stated. He added that the state government is committed to taking all necessary steps toward achieving a swift and permanent resolution to this long-standing dispute.
Pujari held discussions with Advocate General Pitambar Acharya and sought advice on possible legal steps that will help in protecting Oisha’s interests. Additional Chief Secretary of Revenue and Disaster Management Department Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Southern RDC, Koraput Collector and SP and senior officers of concerned departments also attended the meeting.
The Revenue minister noted that the dispute over Kotia villages has been a subject of discussion and legal proceedings between the two states for many years. After Odisha dismissed the inter-state boundary dispute in 2006, the review petition and curative petition filed in Supreme Court were also dismissed.
Since the matter is sub-judice, the Advocate General has been given responsibility to take necessary legal steps and the Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue Department and Koraput Collector have been directed to provide all documents and cooperation.
The minister said coordinated steps should be taken based on legal facts, historical documents, census data and administrative records, with coordination between concerned departments, legal experts and district administration.
Pujari said the government is giving priority to making the legal process more effective for a speedy, permanent and constitutional resolution and ensuring uninterrupted delivery of government services, developmental programmes and basic amenities to people of Kotia.
On Chief Minister Mohan Majhi’s instructions, a committee under the chairmanship of Pujari has been regularly visiting Kotia and reviewing development works. The district administration has been directed to keep a close watch on the situation.