The State Government on Wednesday formed an eight-member committee under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary SC Mahapatra to deliberate on bilateral outstanding issues of mutual interest between the States of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

Revenue and Disaster Management Principal Secretary Bishnupada Sethi issued a notification in this regard. The panel will discuss the issues with the officials nominated by Andhra Pradesh for the purpose.

The other members of the panel are the Development Commissioner, Home Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue Principal Secretary, Water Resources Principal Secretary, Energy Principal Secretary, S&ME Department Principal Secretary and Higher Education Principal Secretary.

The committee has been formed as per a decision taken at the meeting held on November 9 here between Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his AP counterpart YS Jagan Mohan Reddy with a view to resolving the outstanding issues of mutual interest between both States. The meeting had decided that the two States’ Chief Secretaries would set up an institutional mechanism to deliberate on the outstanding issues and find a solution in the best interests of the people of both States.

It was decided in the meeting to work closely for resolving the issues relating to the Kotia group of villages and any other boundary dispute, Neradi Barrage, Jhanjavathi Reservoir, Polavaram, release of water for Bahuda river and mutual NOCs for Balimela and Upper Sileru in energy sector.

Both States also resolved to extend support for tackling the problems of Leftwing Extremism and ganja cultivation. It was also decided that both States would work towards setting up a chair for Odia and Telugu languages in BR Ambedkar University, Srikakulam, and Berhampur University, respectively. Besides, appointment of language teachers in schools in border districts of the two States, supply of books and conduct of language examination would also be undertaken to promote brotherhood.