Odisha has border dispute with 4 neighbouring states

Bhubaneswar, Feb 24: Odisha  has border disputes with 4 neighbouring states over the bordering villages of six districts (Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Ganjam, Gajapati, Keonjhar and Nuapada), Revenue Minister Sudam Charn Marandi told the state assembly today. The four states with which we have border dispute are: Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. "We will not tolerate the encroachment by the neighbouring states into our territory", the Minister assured the House. The prominent inter-state border dispute has been with Andhra Pradesh. Odisha has territorial jurisdiction over 21 gram panchayats in Kotia area. However, Andhra Pradesh has intruded into some of Odisha territory and has been staking claim over it. Earlier, Andhra Pradesh used to nominate panchayat president. However, this time it has conducted panchayat election in some of the Odisha panchayats. Odisha government has informed this to the Supreme Court. Recently, Supreme Court while hearing the contempt petition filed by Odisha government has granted 4-week time to the state to file counter affidavit and produce necessary documents in support of its claim. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced a special package for Kotia area. The Odisha government has undertaken various developmental works in Kotia, said the Minister. Similarly, the state has border dispute with neighbouring West Bengal over a few bordering villages including Sahabajpur, Bilaspur, Gopalpur, Mankadia, Kuanrpur, Totapada and Behera Sahi. It has been decided set up a ground control point in the area with the help of Odisha Space Application Centre (ORSAC), he informed. Steps have been taken for resolving border dispute over four villages in Mayurbhanj district, over Madanpur village in Ganjam district and some other villages in Gajapati, Keonjhar and Nuapada districts, said the Minister.