Indo-Bangla joint plan may resolve flooding in Agartala, Kailashahar and Belonia: Gitte

Tripura PWD (Public Works Department) and Health Secretary Kiran Gitte on Thursday articulated that the flooding issues in Agartala city and other towns sharing borders with Bangladesh–Kailashahar and Belonia to be specific–could not be solved in isolation. In fact, the senior official proposed that joint Indo-Bangla initiatives could be proven more effective and sustainable in addressing the perennial problems faced by several areas of both the countries. 

Speaking at a brainstorming session on addressing water logging issues in Agartala city, Gitte said, “Most of the water discharged by major channels of Agartala city enters into Bangladesh. Be it Kalapania or Katakhal, the water after entering Bangladesh doesn’t have a proper drainage facility. The plain land gets flooded which is how the waterlogging issue keeps on worsening. It is not a problem for Agartala alone. Kailashahar and Belonia are facing almost similar kinds of issues. At least three towns are facing similar issues. If a broader joint action plan could be chalked out by both the countries, we could bring a sustainable and effective solution to it.” 

According to the senior official, officials from the Bangladesh side are also equally interested in solving the problem. “When we sit in meetings of Joint River Commission and bordering districts, the officials of the Bangladesh side show readiness to such proposals. For funds, either we can rely on the Bangladesh government to sanction funds or we can request the Government of India to fund projects on both sides in the interest of our people. The entire Akhaura-Agartala railway project has been funded by the Government of India and India and Bangladesh are set for multi-layered connectivity through Tripura. We are having roadway connectivity. Railway and waterway connectivity are also being expanded,” he added. 

According to him, the National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee has been assigned to study the entire water-logging problem of Agartala city. 

Stating that a large section of the city would be protected from waterlogging and floods once the 650 meters gap existing on the Northern Bank of the river is plugged off. 

“A few years back, we noticed water seeping through the embankments of river Howrah. Subsequently, the embankments had been strengthened and only 650 meters gap remained to be strengthened. Once the families living there are resettled, the whole Northern Bank of the river would get into a shape that could prevent water flowing right from Maharaj Ganja Bazar to City Centre. But, it may lead to the pressure of water shifting towards the Southern side. This will be a challenge for the future,” he said. 

He also highlighted plans of bringing surface drinking water from Gomati and other rivers of the state to address the growing need of Agartala city. 

“Agartala is a city of six lakh people but it records footfalls of two lakh additional people who are on the move to and forth of the city. In the present situation, we are capable of meeting 70 to 80 percent of drinking water needs with existing infrastructure. There are plans to bring water from Gomati and look at possibilities of utilising other rivers for the same needs,” he added.