Agartala, April 22: Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, for the first time, has addressed growing concerns over the construction of embankments by Bangladesh along the state’s border near Kailashahar and Belonia, stating that the matter is under the government’s active consideration.
Speaking to the media in the sidelines of programme of inauguration of school building at Amtali in Agartala on Tuesday, Dr. Saha confirmed that the issue has already come to his attention.
He said that in the case of Kailashahar in Unakoti district, the state government has already taken necessary steps. Regarding the Muhurichar area in Belonia, South Tripura district, he stated that detailed information has been gathered and forwarded to higher authorities for appropriate action.
The Chief Minister assured the people, that the state is also constructing embankments in vulnerable areas and expressed hope that residents will not face further hardships due to the developments across the border.
However, the Opposition CPIM and Congress launched sharp attacks on the state government, alleging administrative inaction during the dry season and blaming the authorities for waking up only after Opposition MLAs raised the issue in both districts.
They viewed that the state remained silent when it should have acted. Now that the monsoon has arrived and Bangladesh has completed raising the embankments right next to our border pillars, the government has only just begun work on the Indian side.
The Opposition leaders warned that with last year’s floods still fresh in memory, this year could bring even worse devastation if immediate action is not taken by both the state and central governments.
The Opposition asserted that any potential disaster would rest squarely on the government’s shoulders.
Local residents, especially in low-lying areas near the border, have also voiced fears of rising water levels and severe flooding if the embankment situation is not addressed promptly.
