Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has called for a conducive environment for talks to settle the border dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. In a letter to Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, chief minister of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday, Union Minister Mr. Pradhan has said that there is a need to build an enabling environment to facilitate talks between the states in view of the flared up situation on the ground.<br />''<br />''<span style="color: #000000;">Union Minister Mr. Pradhan has suggested a four-pronged initiative to resolve the border dispute between the two states. It includes, retreat of armed police forces from the disputed villages and immediate withdrawal of cases registered against local representatives and government officials in both the states, putting on hold new structural construction and earthmoving activities except for essential public utility facilities, bilateral discussion between the chief ministers of both the states to lay the broad parameters for future roadmap and joint working group level talks at the level of chief secretary or Development Commissioner of both the states. Expressing his anguish as an Odia to see the distress and suffering the people of Koraput and Gajapati district in Odisha, the union minister has assured the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister of all support on behalf of the Union Government and also in his individual capacity to facilitate an amicable environment for bilateral talks and peaceful resolution of the dispute.</span><br />