Bhubaneswar: Following Andhra Pradesh’s notification for panchayat elections in Kotia, the Odisha government has decided to deploy officials from its Police and Revenue departments to monitor the neighbouring state’s activities and oversee development works in the disputed region.

The decision was taken at a review meeting on the Kotia dispute chaired by Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari.

As part of the monitoring mechanism, one official each from the Odisha Police and Revenue departments will be stationed in Kotia. They will track developments, monitor activities undertaken by Andhra Pradesh and review ongoing development works by the Odisha government. The officials will submit regular reports to the state government.

The meeting was attended by the Koraput Collector, Koraput Superintendent of Police, Southern Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), Advocate General, Law Secretary and senior Revenue Department officials.

Pujari said the state government would pursue legal remedies in the Supreme Court to protect Odisha’s interests in Kotia. The government would explore the possibility of reviving the pending contempt petition or filing a fresh one, if necessary, he said.

Recalling the legal history of the dispute, the minister said the state government had approached the Supreme Court over Kotia in 1968. In 2006, a contempt petition was filed after an adverse court ruling, followed by a curative petition in the same year.

Pujari criticised the previous Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government, alleging it had failed to adequately prepare for legal battles concerning Odisha’s territorial interests. He also accused former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of relying largely on letters rather than taking effective action to strengthen Odisha’s presence in the region.

Notably, Patnaik, who is now the Leader of the Opposition in the Odisha Assembly, wrote to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday, urging the state government to take decisive steps to safeguard Odisha’s territorial integrity following Andhra Pradesh’s move to hold panchayat elections in Kotia.

Pujari said the BJP government had stepped up development activities in the region since assuming office, adding ministers from various departments had visited Kotia. He said the government was committed to strengthening its engagement with residents through development initiatives.

BJD vows to defend Kotia residents’ rights

Meanwhile, the opposition BJD on Tuesday said it would firmly defend the rights of Kotia residents and reiterated the region belonged to Odisha. The party also criticised the BJP government, accusing it of remaining silent on the issue.

BJD leader Lenin Mohanty claimed the people of Kotia had received sustained attention under the previous BJD government through planned development initiatives, which improved their daily lives and strengthened Odisha’s administrative presence in the region.

Mohanty said between 2000 and 2024, the state government had made substantial investments in road connectivity, linking Kotia with Kunduli, Doliambo-Naringipadar, Deomali and other interior areas.

He further claimed educational infrastructure had been expanded through the establishment of an Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya with free bus services, tribal boys’ and girls’ hostels, Anganwadi centres and school buildings.

Healthcare facilities were strengthened through a 10-bed hospital, upgraded sub-centres and mobile medical units, he said. A police station was also established, while electricity, drinking water and mobile connectivity were expanded. Hundreds of families received houses under the Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana, Mohanty added.

Located in Koraput district along the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border, Kotia has been at the centre of a longstanding territorial dispute between the two states. Andhra Pradesh’s decision to hold panchayat elections in the region has renewed concerns in Odisha over its administrative presence and territorial claims.