Odisha: LoP Pradipta Naik Proposes Steps To Resolve Kotia Row

Bhubaneswar: Leader of Position (LoP) Pradipta Naik on Wednesday urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to speed up development work in all border villages.

“Ensure basic amenities like education, healthcare, food and drinking water for residents in border areas,” he wrote.

Attributing the escalation of border tension between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh to state government’s inaction, he proposed setting up ‘Kotia Cluster Development Authority’ for resolving the issue.

On February 13, Andhra Pradesh held panchayat elections in three villages in the Kotia cluster, which the opposition had termed as a sad day of Odisha.

Prior to the election, the Odisha government moved the Supreme Court seeking initiation of contempt of court proceedings against AP for violation of status quo agreed upon by the two states more than 50 years ago.

The matter will come up for hearing on February 19.