Lakhanpur: Even as the border dispute over Kotia panchayat of Koraput remains unresolved between Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, Mahulapahad reserve forest in Jharsuguda district has been under occupation of Chhattisgarh.
The neighbouring state has even pitched in boundary pillars within the territorial area of Odisha here, a report said.
According to reports, after Andhra Pradesh forcibly conducted panchayat elections in three villages of Kotia recently, the opposition parties have been targeting the state government over the border issue and failure to checkmate Andhra’s expansionist move.
Buckled under pressure, the government has sought reports about the status from the Collectors in the districts having border issues. A total of 21 villages under Lakhanpur tehsil are on the borders of Chhattisgarh.
All these villages are under Chantipalli, Kanaktora and Bhikampalli revenue circles. Jharsuguda Collector Saroj Kumar Samal had been asked to look into the border dispute in these areas and submit a report.
The Collector directed the Lakhanpur tehsildar Biswakesan Pandey to investigate the issue. Following a directive from the tehsildar, revenue inspectors of these areas conducted a ground zero survey recently.
During the field survey, it was found that Chhattisgarh has intruded into Odisha boundary lines in Kanaktora revenue circle. The neighbopuring state has set up pillars well within the territory of Odisha near Jharigaon.
As a result, the Mahulapahad reserve forest has been affected, alleged the villagers of Jharigaon.
Taking serious note of the border encroachment, a team of officials from the district administration comprising sub-collector Shiba Toppon, Lakhanpur tehsiladr Biswkesan Pandey, BDO Sanjib Patel, RI Hemsagar Patel has taken stock of the border status at Jharigaon.
The sub-collector said following a government order, the border issue was investigated in 2017. “It was then made clear that there was no border issue. Now, no serious border dispute is at Jharigaon,” he added.
Notably, before the formation of Odisha, Jharigaon was part of Madhya Pradesh. After formation of Odisha Pradesh, Jharigaon came under Odisha.
Mahulapahad reserve forest is close to the village. Villagers said, at that time, Jharigaon was categorized as a reserve forest during a land settlement. Later, a major settlement was done in the area.
Without the knowledge of the state government, the Chhattisgarh government has grabbed a part of the area, they lamented. In the past, people of fringe villages in both the sides had confrontations over the boundary issue.
Even people’s representatives had raised the issue in the Assembly several times in the past, seeking a permanent solution to the issue.
PNN