Koraput: The ongoing border dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh has reached another level as, this time, the neighbouring state is playing spoilsport in supplying electricity to Raipahad village under Nandapur block of Koraput district.
According to sources, power discom Tata Power South Odisha Distribution Ltd (TPSODL) has completed all the groundworks for electricity supply to the households of Raipahad and has installed a transformer as well as utility poles.
However, Andhra Pradesh’s electricity department was quick enough to install all the required infrastructure and supply power to the households of Raipahad spoiling Odisha’s move, the source added.
Now, the houses of Raipahad have been lit up with power supplied by Andhra. TPSODL has put up utility poles from Dumuriguda to Raipahad and even installed a transformer in the village, the source informed.
However, in a bid to strike a chord with Raipahad villagers, Andhra lost no time and connected the households with power supply before Odisha could do it. This has left the district administration red-faced while the neighbouring state is drawing appreciation from some of the villagers, the source added.
On the other hand, the villagers and public representatives of Golur panchayat alleged that Raipahad village has been deprived of the benefits of the developmental initiatives as the district administration and block officials have remained silent.
Sources said the non-descript Raipahad village in Golur panchayat under Nandapur block is situated on the border of the neighbouring state. The neighbouring state is frequently straying into the village and trying to wean away the villagers from Odisha by implementing various developmental projects and doling out the benefits of welfare schemes. This has created a dispute between the two states for which the officials of both states had twice held meetings to sort out the issues.
However, Andhra had failed to give any proof of its claim over Raipahad village and agreed to withdraw from the village. It also decided to stop all the developmental works it was implementing in the village and stopped the power supply that it had started in the village, the source informed.
However, it went back on its promise and resumed power supply to the village much to the chagrin of the district administration and block officials. TPSODL engineer Bikash Choudhury said two project executive engineers of the department visited Raipahad village and supervised the electrification works.
They informed us that the power supplied by Andhra should be disconnected first before Odisha could connect the households with power. The state government has awarded houses under Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana to all the households in the village.
Some of the villagers have already started building their houses under the scheme. Locals have demanded the district administration and block officials visit their village and resume power supply to their village by disconnecting the supply from the Andhra side.
PNN
