Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan has urged Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik to convene an all-party assembly over Odisha’s border dispute with Andhra Pradesh.

The Union minister identified how Andhra Pradesh was attempting to win over the folks residing within the border villages by providing them ration playing cards, healthcare, schooling and different amenities.

Odisha and Andhra Pradesh have been at loggerheads over the possession of  Kutia Panchayat which falls in Koraput district.

Although the panchayat belongs to Odisha, Andhra Pradesh has began a variety of developmental tasks there regardless of the opposition by the Odisha authorities. The problem has snowballed into a serious controversy souring the connection between the 2 neighbouring states.

In a letter to the chief minister, Pradhan stated: “I’m drawing your variety consideration to my earlier makes an attempt in 2020 and 2021 for arriving at a harmonious decision to frame points between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. I as soon as once more search your private intervention in addressing rising points within the border villages in south Odisha, specifically Kotia Gram Group of villages in Pottangi Block in Koraput District and Manikapatna in Gangabada GP of Rayagada Block in Gajapati district.

“As you’d remember, administrative outreach by the Andhra Pradesh authorities in these villages has been reported prior to now few days. This illegitimate and unlucky outreach by Andhra Pradesh authorities is no longer solely confined to Kotia however can be steadily spreading to different villages in south Odisha.”

Reportedly, 21 such villages have been included within the newly carved Parvathipuram Manyam district, with modified nomenclature, with its headquarters simply 40km away from numerous villages of Kotia, ” Pradhan stated.

Urging the Odisha authorities to be proactive on the bottom, thereby bringing the federal government and administration nearer to the residents of those border villages, Pradhan stated: “Being distant from the district headquarter, folks could discover the Andhra Pradesh administration extra accessible. The neighbouring state could use the identical to alienate these residents from Odisha, and thereby sever their age-old socio-cultural umbilical twine with their motherland.”

He urged Naveen that Odisha ought to take the native inhabitants and organisation into confidence and deal with a number of developmental points by making certain folks staying in bordering villages will not be lured by the Andhra Pradesh authorities.

He made a case for expediting the implementation of developmental actions by the Odisha Authorities. Pradhan stated administrative face-offs and disputes would derail the continued growth course of, which works towards the socio-political aims of each States, and sow seeds for anti-establishment sentiments to take root on this area.

Pradhan additionally identified that no matter get together strains, all political events agree unanimously on the event and safety of Odia pursuits in these border villages.

“Retaining in thoughts the welfare of the residents of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh border villages within the districts of Koraput and Gajapati, I search your private intervention for the harmonious and peaceable decision of the stated points. Due to this fact, I request you to convene an all-party assembly over these points and evaluate the progress made by the inter-state committee and briefing on developmental actions taken up in border villages,” he stated.