Nandapur, Feb, 7: A district-level team is scheduled to visit Raipahad village in Nandapur block of Koraput district on Wednesday. The village, located under Golur Panchayat along the Andhra–Odisha border, has recently become the center of a dispute. As per available information, the team, led by the ADM under the direction of District Collector Manoj Satyaban Mahajan, will visit Raipahad to assess and review the ground situation.
According to reports, Andhra authorities have allegedly entered Raipahad village and offered various incentives to 16 families. These include housing assistance, old-age and widow pensions, Anganwadi education, and healthcare facilities. Claiming the land as their own, they have reportedly issued forest land titles to 12 families. They have also attracted villagers by providing labour cards, drinking water, electricity, and other facilities.
About two and a half years ago, under the direction of the then District Collector Abdal Akhtar, bilateral discussions were held between officials of both states at Raipahad and Chatua. It was established that Raipahad village falls within Odisha’s boundary. Andhra Pradesh had then assured that all benefits extended by them would be withdrawn. On the other hand, the Odisha government had promised to include the villagers under all eligible government welfare schemes.
This issue had earlier been reported in Dharitri newspaper.
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