Koraput, 26th July 2025: In a significant move, the Odisha government has announced regular government bus services to every village in the disputed Kotia cluster of Koraput district. The initiative, backed by road construction, aims to improve connectivity and reinforce Odisha’s administrative presence in the region.
Simultaneously, Odisha has drawn up plans to auction the “Suna Pahad” (Golden Hill) in Kotia — a mineral-rich area that has long been eyed by neighboring Andhra Pradesh, raising fresh stakes in the inter-state border dispute.
The government’s focus on Kotia has intensified under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, with multiple high-level visits drawing public and political attention. A large gathering was observed during the Bahuda Yatra celebrations in Kotia, attended by top ministers and local leaders.
Recent visitors include:
- Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo
- Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari
- Transport, Mines, and Steel Minister Bhushan Jena
- SC/ST & Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond
- Animal Husbandry Minister Gokulananda Mallik
- MPs and MLAs from the region
During one such visit, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari declared comprehensive development of Kotia. Shortly after, Deputy CM Prabhati Parida also toured the area and interacted with residents. Most recently, Panchayati Raj & Rural Development Minister Ravi Narayan Nayak, while visiting Koraput, reaffirmed that Kotia remains a priority for the state and that a special Chief Minister-led committee has been formed for its development.
Nayak firmly stated, “We will not cede an inch of land from Kotia.” Transport and Mines Minister Bhushan Jena, in a press briefing, confirmed the government’s strong opposition to Andhra’s unauthorized activities and reiterated the state’s commitment to assert its territorial rights.
The bus service under the “Mukhyamantri Bus Yojana” will connect all Kotia villages, further integrating the area into Odisha’s administrative network.
Meanwhile, sources indicate that Kotia’s “Suna Pahad” will be among 22 mineral blocks to be auctioned soon in Odisha. This includes valuable deposits of bauxite and other ores that have attracted Andhra’s attention.
Historical Context:
The Kotia dispute dates back to a survey error in 1936 by Assistant Director H.S. Gilby, which led to conflicting land records between Odisha and the then-Madras Presidency (now Andhra). The matter is pending in the Supreme Court, while ground tensions have grown.
Initially, Andhra conducted limited welfare activities in a few villages. But since Jagan Mohan Reddy became CM, Andhra’s administration and political outreach in Kotia has expanded aggressively, even conducting parallel panchayat elections, resulting in serious law and order concerns.
Today, over 5,000 people in 21 villages live under uncertainty amid this territorial tug-of-war, while Andhra’s primary interest seems fixated on the valuable gold-bearing hills of Kotia.
Odisha’s recent flurry of visits, public declarations, infrastructure rollout, and mining plans signal a strategic counter to Andhra’s encroachment and a reaffirmation of its territorial claim.
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