The Odisha government has initiated actions to establish a degree college in the disputed Kotia area of Koraput district, as stated by State Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Wednesday. The Kotia area is claimed by both Odisha and the neighboring state of Andhra Pradesh, with a legal case regarding the dispute pending in the Supreme Court since 1968.

Pujari, accompanied by Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, visited the disputed region on Tuesday and engaged in various activities, including rituals for the installation of the chariot wheel of Goddess Subhadra, which was transported from Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.

In comments to the media, Pujari remarked, “The border dispute in the Kotia area is very old. As the people were deprived of the path of development for the past 70 years, Andhra Pradesh reached out to them with developmental projects and lured the locals.”

He added, “However, after the BJP formed the government in Odisha, we have been making efforts to reach out to the people. Several ministers and Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida visited the area and launched several public welfare initiatives.” An inter-ministerial committee has been established to ensure that the benefits of all schemes reach the residents of the disputed Kotia area.

Preparations are underway to set up a degree college in the region, with ongoing efforts to facilitate higher education for poor and meritorious students from the area in Bhubaneswar. Pujari also mentioned that the State government has allocated funds for tourism development and job creation in the region.

Additionally, measures are being taken to enhance healthcare services in the Kotia area. During their visit, the two ministers inaugurated multiple road projects in Koraput district and distributed land titles under the Forest Rights Act, along with ration cards, pension approvals, and benefits under the Subhadra scheme.