In a first-of-its-kind move, the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh government on Friday organized a health camp at the disputed Kotia gram panchayat headquarters under Pottangi block in Koraput district, triggering fresh tensions over the long-pending border dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
Odisha Officials Intervene
District officials in Odisha stated that upon receiving information about the camp, they rushed to the spot and asked the Andhra Pradesh team to leave the area. The team subsequently withdrew without any confrontation, avoiding a potential escalation.
“All development activities in Kotia are being taken care of by the Odisha government. The district administration has undertaken several initiatives for the holistic development of the region. Sometimes Andhra officials sneak into the area to lure residents, but such activities have always been checked by the district administration,” said a senior official from the Odisha administration.
Significance of the Incident
The development is significant because Andhra Pradesh officials had earlier largely confined their welfare and administrative activities to villages located along the inter-state border. However, this time, a medical team conducted the health outreach programme in front of the panchayat office, according to local sources. This marks a direct challenge to Odisha's administrative claims over the area.
Decades-Old Border Dispute
The Kotia cluster has remained at the centre of a territorial dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh for decades. Both states claim administrative control over 21 of the 28 villages under the gram panchayat. The matter has been pending before the Supreme Court since 1968, with no resolution in sight.
Ongoing Tensions
The latest incident comes amid continuing attempts by Andhra Pradesh to expand its welfare and outreach activities in the Kotia region. These efforts often draw protests from Odisha authorities and local organisations, who view them as encroachments on Odisha's jurisdiction. The health camp incident is likely to further strain relations between the two states.
Local residents remain caught in the middle of the dispute, with both states vying for their allegiance through development projects and welfare schemes. The Odisha administration has repeatedly emphasised its commitment to the region's development, while Andhra Pradesh continues to assert its claims through such outreach programmes.
