Bhograi: After a hiatus, the West Bengal government reportedly intruded into Odisha borders near Udaypur beach under this block in Balasore district. It has unlawfully constructed a boundary wall.
Meanwhile, officials of the district administration took stock of the situation and stopped the work Wednesday. ADM Bhabesh Nayak, Bhograi additional tehsildar Santosh Panigrahi and some people’s representatives visited the area and directed Bengal people to halt construction work.
Notably, parts of a watch tower and a boundary wall on the Udayapur beach collapsed during cyclone Yaas. The WB government started construction of the boundary wall by intruding almost 50 feet into Odisha’s territory.
When locals opposed it, both sides mutually agreed in 2011 that no government will construct anything in the disputed area. But this time around, the West Bengal government violated the agreement and intruded almost 50 feet into Odisha’s border, locals said.
As for the issue, ADM Bhabesh Nayak, said, “Construction was halted. We will take up the matter with our counterparts in East Midnapore district. The dispute has to be resolved through talks.”
He added that any unauthorised construction in the disputed area will not be allowed. West Bengal has made several attempts in the past to encroach upon fringe areas near Udaypur.
In February this year, a meeting of top officials of Odisha and West Bengal governments was held at West Medinipur to discuss modalities for settling the disputes arising in several bordering villages in Jaleswar and Bhograi blocks.
PNN
