The recent announcement of panchayat polls in three villages of Kotia panchayat in the Koraput district of Odisha by Andhra Pradesh has reignited a long-standing border dispute between the two states. The border disputes of Odisha are a complex issue with a deep historical background that continues to influence the present-day scenario.
Overview of Odisha’s Border Disputes
Odisha, formed from the Bengal-Bihar-Odisha province on April 1, 1936, still grapples with unresolved inter-state border disputes. In particular, Odisha is in conflict with four neighboring states, concerning territories in eight out of its thirty districts. Among these, fourteen districts share borders with Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand. Notably, the most significant border conflict is over the Kotia villages located in the Koraput district which borders Andhra Pradesh.
The Kotia Dispute
Since 1960, the territorial disagreement over Kotia gram panchayat has been a point of contention between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. The dispute revolves around 21 villages in Kotia gram panchayat. The residents of this area receive benefits from both Pottangi block in Koraput and Salur in the Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh, depending on both regions for various daily activities.
Water Dispute with Andhra Pradesh
Adding to the complexity of the disputes, in 2006, Odisha registered a complaint to the Central Government under Section 3 of the Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956. The state’s complaint was about the water disputes with Andhra Pradesh relating to the Inter-State River Vamsadhara.
Disputes with Other States
The border conflicts of Odisha are not limited to Andhra Pradesh. In fact, Odisha also has disputes with West Bengal over 27 plots in the Balasore District and a few areas in the Mayurbhanj district known for its iron ore reserves and Chhau dance.
With regard to Jharkhand, the border dispute stems from the change in the course of the Baitarani river, which originates from the hill ranges of Keonjhar district in Odisha. As an east-flowing river, it joins the Bay of Bengal, covering the major portion of Odisha’s terrain with only a small part of its upper reach falling in Jharkhand.
Furthermore, there are disputes between Odisha and Chhattisgarh relating to communities in Nabarangpur and Jharsuguda district. In response to these issues, the Central Government constituted the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal in 2018.
A Way Forward
Navigating this intricate web of disputes requires increasingly sophisticated interventions. The preferred approach would be to adopt inter-state dialogues, deliberations in Inter-State councils, and adherence to cooperative federalism principles to resolve these disputes. This provides a viable path forward to nurture mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence among the states.
