Bhubaneswar: Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das on Thursday criticised the state government over the Kotia dispute, alleging administrative incompetence and lack of foresight, and urged it to resolve the long-standing issue through immediate political and diplomatic dialogue rather than allowing the matter to remain pending in the Supreme Court.
His remarks came amid a political row following Andhra Pradesh’s notification for elections in Kotia, a disputed border area that Odisha considers integral to its territory and a symbol of Odia identity and self-respect.
Das said the BJP governments at the Centre and in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh should facilitate a negotiated settlement of the dispute. He argued that the issue required immediate political and administrative intervention instead of prolonged dependence on legal proceedings.
Questioning the effectiveness of the state government’s efforts, the Congress leader said the formation of special committees, official-level meetings and preparation of reports had failed to produce a lasting solution.
He also accused the Odisha government of adopting a weak approach towards Andhra Pradesh and called for firm measures to safeguard the state’s territorial interests. He questioned the government’s efficiency and its handling of the sensitive border issue.
Meanwhile, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari has held detailed discussions with Odisha Advocate General Pitambar Acharya to examine the legal aspects of the dispute and seek advice on the way forward.
The minister has stressed the need to expedite necessary legal measures and strengthen Odisha’s administrative presence in the border areas. He said protecting the state’s legal rights and interests, while maintaining peace, stability and public confidence in Kotia, remained the government’s priority.
The state government is committed to taking appropriate steps towards an early and lasting resolution of the dispute, the minister said.
The Kotia dispute, involving a cluster of villages along the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border, has remained a contentious issue between the two states for decades.
Odisha’s then government had approached the Supreme Court in 2006 over the inter-state boundary dispute. The petition was dismissed, as were subsequent review and curative petitions, according to the information available.
After a gap of 16 years, the then state government filed another case in 2022, which remains pending before the apex court.
