Bhubaneswar: Senior BJP leader and former minister Biswa Bhushan Harichandan Saturday urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to intervene in the intrusions of Andhra Pradesh government officials into the Kotiya Gram Panchayat and distributing freebies among people.
Harichandan told news persons here that the Chief Minister should immediately review the developmental works in the area and assured the people to provide security. He advised Patnaik to hold discussions with his counterpart in Andhra Pradesh and ask him to refrain from such activities.
Orissa and Andhra Pradesh governments are fighting a legal battle over ownership of 21 of the 28 villages of Kotiya Gram Panchayat in the Supreme Court since 1968.
The apex court though had dismissed the petitions filed by the state government to establish its ownership over the gram panchayat, it ordered status quo with Kotiya remaining a part of Orissa.
But the state government ignorant about the law and the directive was feeling helpless on the issue, he alleged and failed to develop the Kotiya gram panchayat and exercise its right over the area.
On January 9 last, the Vishakahapatnam District Collector and SP along with some officials distributed blankets and pensions to tribals in Kotiya gram panchayat under Pottangi block of Koraput district during ‘Maa Uru’ or Janambhumi, being observed in Andhra Pradesh from January 2 to 11 every year.
Revenue minister Maheswar Mohanty described the incident as a very serious issue and directed an official team to visit the area and submit a report. PNN
