Nandapur: In a significant move, the district and state administration have shown active interest in developing Raipahad, a remote border village under Golur-4 Panchayat of Nandapur Block in Koraput district.
To construct a paved road to the village, an amount of ₹1.68 crore (₹1,68,69,000) has been approved from the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) fund. The Sunabeda RD Division has completed the tender process, and road construction work from Sadaktha to Raipahad village is set to begin soon. This was confirmed by Koraput District Collector B. Kirthi Vasan during a visit to Dumuriguda under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
Reportedly, Andhra Pradesh had previously attempted to claim Raipahad by providing forest land pattas, rations, health services, education, electricity, and drinking water under central and state schemes, asserting it as its own territory.
Following bilateral discussions, Andhra Pradesh continued to covertly extend its welfare schemes to Raipahad village, while Nandapur block, Koraput district, and the Odisha administration maintained silence, leading to public discontent.
After a report was published in the Dharitri newspaper, the Koraput district and state administration initiated steps for the development of Raipahad. A sanction of ₹1.68 crore from the DMF fund has been finalized, and the tender process has been completed for the road construction.
Savitri Burudi, acting sarpanch of Golur Panchayat, Lakshmi Matam, Samiti member, Biranchi Matam, social worker, and all ward members along with the villagers of Raipahad expressed their gratitude to the Dharitri newspaper, the district administration, and the state government.
According to Nandapur BDO Durgaprasad Dora and Tahasildar Debabrata Maharana, along with road construction, the village will also receive:
Houses for all families under housing schemes
Odisha electricity supply (replacing Andhra power lines)
Educational and health facilities
Drinking water infrastructure
Ration benefits
Land patta distribution
The initiative aims to bring full-fledged development to this long-neglected border village.