Nandapur: It has been reported that Andhra Pradesh has started providing financial assistance for the construction of houses in the Raiapahad village of the Golur Panchayat in Nandapur Block, Koraput district. After bilateral discussions between the two states, Andhra Pradesh has been helping the local residents of the border areas with housing construction.
On Friday, after a visit by the Nandapur Block Video Durga Prasad Dora to the village, the details of the events came to light. Andhra Pradesh has been enticing the residents of Raiapahad with various schemes and offers. This was followed by a bilateral discussion between Andhra Pradesh and Odisha about 1.5 years ago. Under the scheme, housing was being constructed for the people of Raiapahad with financial support from Andhra Pradesh.
However, this initiative faced controversy as Andhra Pradesh began providing support to the villagers, including giving them ration cards, voter cards, pension cards, and educational assistance. Seven individuals were included in the Central Prime Minister’s Housing Scheme as part of the initiative. While the housing construction continued, there was concern about its completion.
The village was identified as part of a joint program, with individuals such as Suresh, Pangi Raju, Rajarao Hantala, Eketa Rao, and others being registered and provided financial grants of ₹40,000 for their housing construction. Despite the intervention of the Nandapur Block administration, the efforts to halt the project have not been successful, and attempts to re-enter Raiapahad continue.
During a visit to the village on Friday, Block Administrative Officer, Panchayat Committee Member Lakshmi Matam, and former Sarpanch Sabitri Burudi clarified that following bilateral discussions, three residents from Gameli Manima, Hantala Vimala, and Hantala Tulasa have been included in Odisha’s housing program and their homes are being built. The remaining four people are still receiving financial assistance from Andhra Pradesh to complete their homes.
The report on this matter will be submitted to the District Collector for further action, as informed by Video Dora.