High-Level Delegation Studies Bangladesh Embankment Impact in South Tripura
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Synopsis
On April 20, a high-level team visited Belonia, South Tripura, to assess the impact of a Bangladesh embankment on Indian territory. Led by Kiran Gitte, they discussed flood protection measures and ongoing repair works following last year's devastating floods.
Key Takeaways
- High-level delegation visited Belonia to assess embankment impacts.
- Embankments are being built to protect South Tripura from flooding.
- Government identified 43 locations needing infrastructure repairs.
- Plans include continuous work and additional engineering support.
- Local residents expressed concerns over Bangladesh's construction efforts.
Agartala, April 20 (NationPress) A high-level team visited the border town of Belonia on Sunday, examining the potential impacts on the Indian side due to the embankment being erected by the Bangladesh government along the Muhuri river, which serves as the boundary between the two nations.
The delegation, headed by Tripura Public Works Department Secretary Kiran Gitte, conducted site visits in the India-Bangladesh border areas, engaging with local residents and holding discussions with elected officials, including the Chairman of the Belonia Municipal Council.
Gitte indicated that to safeguard the South Tripura district headquarters Belonia, along with nearby villages, embankments are being constructed, and additional measures have been initiated, with plans to expedite the ongoing work.
Last year, during the catastrophic floods and landslides in August, numerous river embankments and infrastructure along the India-Bangladesh border sustained damage. The government has pinpointed 43 such vulnerable locations across various districts, including South Tripura. The senior IAS officer noted that repair work for these infrastructures is either in progress or set to commence shortly.
"All repair and related work will be completed by June this year. Work will proceed continuously, as the volume of work in South Tripura is substantial, necessitating the deployment of five additional engineers in the district," he stated.
Accompanying Gitte were BSF's Tripura Frontier Inspector General Ashwani Kumar Sharma, the South Tripura District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, and officials from the Water Resource and Public Works Departments among others.
The construction of a large embankment by the Bangladesh government opposite Belonia has raised concerns among Indian residents, as it could pose a threat to the town and surrounding border villages during the monsoon floods.
Residents of the Belonia Municipal Council area and nearby villages such as Ballamukh, Ishan Chandranagar, and others in South Tripura have voiced significant worries regarding the construction of the giant embankment.
Local CPI-M MLA Dipankar Sen has urged the South Tripura District Magistrate and senior officials of the Border Security Force to escalate the matter to the Central government for diplomatic engagement with Bangladesh.
Additionally, a similar embankment has been established by the Bangladesh government in the northern Tripura Unakoti district, potentially jeopardizing the town of Kailashahar and its surrounding border villages during the monsoon floods.
In response, the opposition Congress party has initiated a series of protests in Kailashahar seeking the intervention of the Central government.
Senior Congress leader and former Minister Birajit Sinha, who has been leading the protests against the controversial embankment in Unakoti, emphasized that the Bangladesh government is unilaterally constructing a significant embankment that could threaten Kailashahar and nearby border villages during the monsoon.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha previously wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the embankment issue.
"In his letter, the Chief Minister brought attention to the potential impacts of the Bangladeshi embankment in Unakoti district and the risks of flooding on the Indian side. He urged the Home Minister to discuss this matter with the Bangladesh government to take necessary actions," an official stated.
