Bhubaneswar: Odisha Government has made it clear after the reports came to fore that the Andhra Pradesh planning to hold rural polls in some bordering villages of Koraput and Gajapati, that it will not allow an inch of land to be misused by the neighboring state.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Sudam Marndi while replying to a question on the State Government’s steps to stop Andhra Pradesh’s attempt of holding Gram Panchayat polls within Odisha territory.
Stating that the State Government was aware of the Andhra Pradesh government’s activities in Koraput and Gajapati district, the minister said appropriate measures will be taken at proper time.
He, however, refused to divulge details of Odisha’s plan when asked whether the state government will move the Supreme Court in this context.
“Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced a Rs 150 crore packages for Kotia Gram Panchayat in Koraput district and inaugurated projects of Rs 18 crore recently. The Chief Minister will also visit the Kotia cluster of villages soon and transform it into a model panchayat,” Mr.Marndi said.
He said the state government is committed to doing its best to resolve this matter and there is no question of giving away an inch of the land of belonging to Odisha, the minister said.
Sources, however, said that Andhra Pradesh government has planned rural polls on February 13 and 17 in some villages located in Odisha’s Koraput and Gajapati district.