Border row: Andhra holds health programme in Pottangi block of Odisha’s Koraput, opposed

Koraput: With no end in sight to the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border row, the neighbouring state has been making encroachment bids in different ways time and again. In this spree, some workers from Andhra conducted a health check-up programme today in Pottangi block of Odisha’s Koraput district.

This was strongly opposed by the Pottangi chairperson, following which the AP workers left the block.

According to an official source, the Health workers were carrying out health check-ups in Galigabadar village of Nuagaon panchayat under the block in Koraput. After being tipped off about it by some locals, the block chairperson Kalpana Pangi reached the spot. She saw them conducting health check-ups and got irritated. Pangi indulged in an altercation with the health workers of the neighbouring state.

When Pangi warned the health workers asking them to vacate the village, they went away in a hurry.

“They are infiltrating into Odisha as 2024 General Elections are approaching,” some locals alleged.

It is pertinent to mention here that officials of Andhra have frequently been intruding into Odisha’s territory.

Andhra put up a signboard at Dhulipadar village of Kotia panchayat in Koraput district in August. The signboard carried messages from the Andhra Chief Minister, which was subsequently pulled up by locals.