Pottangi: The efforts of the Andhra Pradesh government to induct villages under the Kotia panchayat in Koraput district continue. The Andhra government in the past had attempted to do so by offering lucrative sops to residents of various villages in Koraput district. Despite being thwarted on a number of occasions, the Andhra government has persisted with its attempts. The matter came to the fore again when the Andhra government in association with a private firm organised a health camp at Laudi village in Sunki panchayat under this block, Wednesday. With officials busy preparing for the first phase of polls in Odisha next week, the Andhra government used it as an opportune moment to attract the attention of residents who legally belong to Odisha.
However, the plan failed as locals informed the officials of this block. They rushed to the village along with personnel from the Sunki police station and closed down the camp. Andhra officials then played the victim card. They told the crowd which had gathered at the camp that they were being prevented from carrying out a ‘humanitarian’ duty. They told the villagers that had they been a part of Andhra Pradesh, they would get such benefits on a regular basis. Sources informed Thursday that officials frequently visit villages under Kotia panchayat to lure residents with welfare and development schemes if they become a part of Andhra Pradesh. They added that many private organisations are aiding the Andhra government in this regard.
However, till date, their efforts have failed. In the latest case, healthcare officials arrived at Laudi village in an ambulance (AP-39NP3546). They set up base inside a cultural centre constructed by the Odisha government. They distributed free medicines to people who came to the camp for a check-up. Everything was progressing smoothly till a team of Odisha government officials arrived at the spot. Among them were BDO Sukant Patnaik, tehsildar Debendra Bahadur Singh Dharua, chief of the community health centre, Dr Bhagabat Murmu and medical officer of Sunki panchayat, Dr Mrigendra Nath Hembram. They were accompanied by cops who shut down the camp.
Police then detained the entire Andhra team and sought an explanation from them. The Andhra officials were let off with a strict warning and only after they gave in writing that they will not set foot inside Odisha again without permission. Police have initiated a probe to find out the involvement of locals in the incident and who gave the Andhra team permission to set up the camp at the cultural centre.
