Bhubaneswar: Amid repeated intrusion by Andhra Pradesh into Kotia area in Koraput district, the Odisha government is set to chalk out a department-wise plan for the development of villages in this border region.
This was decided at a meeting of the high-level committee specially constituted by the state government to ensure proper development of Kotia area.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, who chaired the meeting, directed all departments to submit their respective action plans for the purpose within a month.
Sources said that officials were asked to focus on the economic, social, and cultural development of the area. Secretaries of various departments have been asked to coordinate with the Koraput District Collector and prepare detailed plans for infrastructure development, market access for farmers, and employment opportunities for youth.
“A special roadmap will be prepared for the development of Kotia. Every department must address issues on the ground and ensure that the benefits of welfare schemes of the state and central government reach the doorsteps of people in Kotia,” Suresh Pujari said.
Asserting that Kotia is an inseparable part of Odisha, the Minister said there will be no compromise over its status. “Kotia has been a long-standing issue between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, lasting over 100 years. We lost ground in the past due to poor representation in the courts and lack of proper documentation in the past,” he said.
To address this, the state government is now reviving the legal case in the Supreme Court and holding consultations with legal experts in this regard, Pujari said.
Secretaries from different departments, Koraput District Collector, Superintendent of Police, and former district collectors were among those who attended the meeting.
