Odisha woos Kotia with a slew of welfare works
Koraput: Stealing a march on Andhra, Odisha government has swung into action to give a fillip to development of contentious Kotia panchayat, claimed by both as their own for over last five decades.
If everything goes as planned then over 8,000 population of Kotia panchayat under Pottangi block in Koraput district will get better healthcare facilities as a 10-bed hospital under construction and a refurbished health sub-centre are expected to be completed before June-end.
“Construction work of the hospital has almost completed and only minor works are left which are expected to be completed in next couple of weeks. The rural development department concerned has been asked to hand over the building this month so that the hospital could be made functional and healthcare facilities provided on the villagers’ doorstep,” said collector (Koraput) Madhusudan Mishra, who reviewed the development works at Kotia on Monday.
At present, Kotia residents depend on Kunduli health community health centre, 20km away from the panchayat headquarters.
Apart from the hospital, construction of an educational complex, a 300-seat tribal boys hostel, a 200-seat tribal girls hostel, community centres at a few villages and numerous interior roads to solve the connectivity problems of the residents to the panchayat headquarters and subsequently to block and district headquarters is nearing completion.
“Due to the lockdown, construction works at the panchayat had slowed down and now it has been decided to expedite them. The educational complex will be ready in next few days as only painting work is pending,” the collector said.