States » EastPosted at: Oct 21 2026 10:09PM


Odisha Govt to expedite legal steps to resolve kotia border dispute

Bhubaneswar, Oct 21 (UNI) The Odisha government will expedite legal measures to protect the state's interests in the long-standing Kotia border dispute with Andhra Pradesh, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said .
During a virtual review meeting, Pujari sought legal advice on appropriate measures to safeguard Odisha's interests and stressed the need to strengthen the state's administrative presence in the border region.
He also directed the district administration to closely monitor the situation and take necessary steps to maintain peace and stability in Kotia.
The review comes after the Andhra Pradesh government recently issued a notification for conducting panchayat elections in some areas of Kotia gram panchayat under Pottangi block in Odisha's Koraput district, reigniting the long-standing territorial dispute between the two states.
Pujari said the protection of Odisha's legal rights and interests, along with the maintenance of peace, stability and public confidence in the region, remained the state government's priority.
He asserted that the government was committed to taking all appropriate measures for an early and lasting resolution of the dispute.
The minister said the dispute over villages in the Kotia region had remained a subject of inter-state discussions and legal proceedings for several years.
He recalled that a case filed by the then Odisha government in the Supreme Court in 2006 in connection with the inter-state boundary dispute was dismissed. The subsequent review and curative petitions were also rejected.
After a gap of 16 years, the then state government filed another case in 2022, which is currently pending before the court, he said.
The dispute became more complicated in February 2021 when Andhra Pradesh conducted panchayat elections in the disputed villages, prompting Odisha to file a contempt petition in the Supreme Court.
As the cases are pending before the court, the Advocate General has been entrusted with taking all necessary legal steps. The Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department and the Koraput Collector have been directed to provide the required documents and extend all necessary assistance to the Advocate General.
Pujari emphasised that the sensitive issue required a coordinated approach based on legal facts, historical documents, census data and administrative records. He called for close coordination among the concerned departments, legal experts and the district administration to ensure effective action.
The state government is also prioritising the uninterrupted delivery of public services, development programmes and basic amenities to the people of Kotia as part of its efforts to achieve an early, lasting and constitutional resolution of the dispute.
A committee constituted under the chairmanship of the Revenue Minister on the directions of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has been regularly visiting Kotia to review development activities in the region.
Pujari directed the district administration to maintain a close watch on the evolving situation and take appropriate measures as required.
The review meeting was attended by Odisha Advocate General Pitambar Acharya, Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department Aravinda Kumar Padhee, the Southern Division Revenue Commissioner, the Koraput Collector and Superintendent of Police, and senior officials of the concerned departments and Koraput district.
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Tags: #Odisha Govt to expedite legal steps to resolve kotia border dispute
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