Koraput: Two days after the Andhra Pradesh government launched its flagship programme Janmabhoomi at the disputed Kotiya panchayat under Pottangi block in the district, the Koraput administration expedited its electrification work at the panchayat on Thursday.

Officials said the defunct transformer at Kuridipadar was replaced on Friday and fresh survey was conducted to electrify non-electrified villages. "Work for strengthening electrification work at all the 28 villages, including the 21 disputed ones, in Kotiya panchayat is in progress and it will be expedited in coming days," said Koraput collector Anupam Saha. "We aim to electrify all the villages and hamlets of Kotiya panchayat in next few months."

Taken aback by the intrusion of officials, including Vizianagaram collector Vivek Jadhav of Andhra Pradesh into Kotiya on Tuesday and distributing blankets and old-age pension among the beneficiaries, the Koraput administration has decided to speed-up its developmental activities in the disputed region.

"While the additional infrastructure developments such as construction of roads, schools, health centres, drinking water facilities among others will be strengthened at villages, it has been decided to hold mega health camps on regular basis at Kotiya," the collector said.

Both the Odisha and Andhra government are entangled in a legal-battle since 1968 over the ownership of 21 of the 28 villages under Kotiya panchayat. On March 30, 2006, the Supreme Court had ordered to maintain status quo at the disputed villages.

Former Koraput MP and BJP leader Jayaram Pangi has alleged that due to the callousness of the state government and the district administration towards Kotiya, the Andhra officials are easily accessing the region.