Andhra resumes road work in Odisha

Paralakhemundi: Residents of Khinga village in Gajapati district expressed resentment over construction of a road in their village by the Andhra Pradesh government. The Koraput administration had stopped the road construction work by the AP government in the bordering villages of Kotia, Gudikhudi and Madhiakhola.
However, after a few days, the Andhra government had resumed the road work at Khinga village in Gajapati district. After the news was flashed, the district administration stopped the construction work and put up a signboard of Odisha government at the site after delineation of the boundary. However, the neighbouring state has once again resumed the road work and this has triggered resentment among the local villagers.
“Though the Odisha government has put up its signboard at the border, the Andhra Pradesh government is continuing with the construction work which is an act of ‘goondaism’. It is the responsibility of the Odisha government, the district administration and the people of Gajapati district to stop such illegal activities,” president of Gajapati Bar Association Ramnath Mishra told the media Tuesday.
Expressing grave concern over the incident, Bibhuti Bhusan Behera, a resident of Khinga village, said this is an inter-state border dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. “The manner in which the Andhra Pradesh government is taking up the road construction work inside the territory of Odisha is deplorable.
People of Gajapati district will not tolerate such high-handedness anymore and will take to the streets against the neighbouring state. It is a failure on the part of the Odisha government, which is not able to stop such illegal activities,” he added.