Bhubaneswar: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is likely to meet Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar later Tuesday to discuss several disputes affecting interstate ties.
According to sources in the government, talks over several disputes including the construction of Neradi barrage over the Vamsadhara River, the Kotia cluster of border villages, and the Janjhavathi project are likely.
A total of 103 acres of land is needed from Odisha for the construction of Neradi barrage, of which 67 acres is riverbed area. The barrage will provide immediate irrigation facilities to 5,000-6,000 acres of land in Odisha, a source said.
According to an Andhra government release, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister will request Naveen Patnaik to co-operate with the resettlement and rehabilitation efforts during the construction of barrages.
Vizianagaram district collector Suryakumari informed that 16 out of 21 villages in bordering areas of the two states have decided to be with Andhra Pradesh, adding that elections were also held in those villages. They said 87 per cent people in Kotia cluster of villages are tribal and there should be no hindrances in providing services to them.