Tripura to Address Bangladesh Embankment Matter with Central Authorities
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Synopsis
The Tripura government is set to engage with the Central authorities regarding an embankment built by Bangladesh, which risks flooding in Unakoti district's Kailashahar and neighboring villages during monsoons.
Key Takeaways
- Tripura government to engage Central authorities over Bangladesh's unilateral embankment construction.
- Risk of flooding in Unakoti district's Kailashahar and border villages during monsoon.
- Officials stress adherence to the Indira-Mujib pact regarding border constructions.
- Congress MLA urges state government intervention.
- Chief Minister assures action will be taken.
Agartala, Jan 18 (NationPress) The Tripura government is poised to engage with the Central government regarding the embankment constructed unilaterally by the Bangladesh government on its territory, which poses a risk to the state's Unakoti district town Kailashahar and surrounding border villages during the monsoon season, officials reported on Saturday.
An official delegation, headed by Unakoti district's District Magistrate Dilip Kumar Chakma, inspected the border regions on Friday. Following this visit, he indicated that he would compile a report for the state government to facilitate discussions with the Central government for necessary actions.
A high-ranking official stated that upon receiving the District Magistrate's report, the state government would approach the Centre and engage in discussions with the Bangladesh government to halt the ongoing construction of the embankment along the Manu River, which serves as the boundary between the two nations.
The official, citing preliminary information, mentioned that the Bangladesh government has erected a 10 km long concrete embankment adjacent to the zero line with no prior consultation with Indian authorities to safeguard their territory against flooding.
According to the official, Bangladesh has completed approximately 3 km of the embankment, with ongoing efforts to finish the remaining sections. The construction of this elevated embankment could severely impact the Unakoti district town of Kailashahar and numerous border villages during the monsoon season due to recurring floods.
“In accordance with the Indira-Mujib pact, signed on March 19, 1972, and the 1975 Joint India-Bangladesh guidelines for border authorities, no structure can be unilaterally constructed within 150 yards from the zero line of the international boundary by either side,” the official elaborated.
On the Indian side, there exists an embankment that was built several decades ago, located more than 350 yards from the zero line, but its height is considerably low.
“The height of the embankment on our side must be significantly increased; otherwise, the district town of Kailashahar and several border villages will risk flooding during the monsoon,” the official emphasized.
Congress legislator from Kailashahar, Birajit Sinha, who is also a former minister, brought the embankment issue to attention during the recently concluded winter session of the Tripura Assembly, urging the state government to address the matter with the Centre.
In response to the Congress MLA's concerns, Chief Minister Manik Saha assured the assembly that he would take up the issue with the Central authorities.
