Pottangi: There is no let-up in incursion by Andhra Pradesh in Kotia panchayat of Koraput district as officials and workers of the bordering state were allegedly found constructing telephone towers in Fagunsineri village, following Uparsembi village, in the panchayat, a report said. The development came at a time when the Odisha government is trying to offer a check to Andhra Pradesh for repeated incursions and identifying land for the construction of mobile towers in the panchayat bordering the southern neighbour. For the residents, it has come as a shocker. But what has sparked surprise is that the district officials were found unaware of the development.
As a result, Andhra officials are doing all they can by taking advantage of the situation. The state government and the district officials have warned them time and again to desist from these illegal activities, but that is hardly having any impact on the Andhra officials. They have refused to withdraw and, instead, entering into the panchayat in frequent intervals and carrying out illegal activities despite warnings by the district officials. Zilla Parishad member Tikai Gemel expressed surprise over the development. She wondered hat how Andhra Pradesh government obtained permission to construct a mobile tower in Fagunsineri village which is on Odisha’s land. She alleged that Andhra had a sinister design behind the construction as it would facilitate in providing various benefits of welfare schemes in online mode and wean away the residents from Odisha. The villagers had apprised a senior official of their problem and Andhra’s repeated incursion in the panchayat during his visit to the area.
However, their pleas are yet to be addressed. When contacted, tehsildar Debendra Bahadur Singh Dharua dismissed the allegations. He said the Andhra government was not constructing the tower, but it is being done by a company