Govt puts Kotia devpt action plan on fast-track

Koraput: The state govt has stepped up implementation of the proposed Rs 290-crore ‘Viksit Kotia Action Plan’ to strengthen its developmental outreach in the disputed Kotia region.The plan envisages major investments in healthcare, education, roads, drinking water, power supply, livelihood generation and rural infrastructure across the border villages.The initiative assumes significance against the backdrop of the decades-old territorial dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh over the Kotia cluster in Koraput district, which has remained pending before the Supreme Court since 1968. Odisha has, over the years, intensified its developmental interventions to improve the socio-economic condition of the residents while strengthening administrative outreach in the strategically important border region.To review the progress of the ambitious plan, a high-level meeting was held at the Koraput collectorate on Wednesday under the chairmanship of collector Manoj Satyawan Mahajan. Senior district officials assessed the status of ongoing projects and chalked out strategies for their time-bound implementation.The review focused on expediting development works in key sectors, including healthcare, road connectivity, education, basic infrastructure and livelihood creation, with the objective of ensuring holistic development of the Kotia region.

“The departments concerned have been directed to work in close coordination and implement development programmes in a planned and time-bound manner. Ensuring that every govt welfare scheme reaches the people of Kotia remains the district administration's foremost priority," Mahajan said.Providing details of the action plan, Pottangi block development officer Ramakrushna Nayak said the proposed project, estimated at around Rs 290 crore, includes strengthening rural infrastructure, formation of youth clubs in villages, promotion of village-level cultural teams, provision of piped safe drinking water, ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities, among other initiatives.“Our focus is to improve the quality of life in the border villages through better public services, enhanced connectivity and sustainable livelihood opportunities. The action plan has been designed to address the long-term developmental needs of the region," Nayak said.The Kotia cluster, comprising 28 villages along the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border, has remained a sensitive interstate issue for decades. Both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh claim jurisdiction over 21 of these villages, and the boundary dispute has been sub judice before the Supreme Court since 1968.