Narkel Kunja: Locals fuming as maintenance contract given to ‘outsider’
Gandacherra, Oct 27, 2022, TRIPURATIMES Desk
Gandachhera, Oct 27: A group of people under the banner of ‘Narkel Kunja Paryatan Kendra Suraksha Committee’ submitted a deputation to the SDM of Gandachhera on Thursday.
A 7-member delegation on behalf of the Committee met SDM Arindam Das and demanded that all the responsibilities pertaining to the maintenance of Narkel Kunja should be given to the permanent residents of the area. The delegates also threatened to close down the roads leading to Narkel Kunj if their demands are not fulfilled.
Prior to deputation submission, hundreds of local people held a rally in Gandachhera in support of their demand.
A member of the Suraksha Committee, Ratan Bikas Chakma told the media, “Our forefathers started living in Narkel Kunja area a long time ago. Even around 4-5 years ago, Narkel Kunj was covered under the jungle. We, the local people, with the permission of the State government started developing the area through the ‘Narkel Kunja Paryatan Kendra Suraksha Committee'. Several facilities were introduced with assistance from the State government”.
Ratan Bikas Chakma further said, “The Committee is looking after the maintenance and development works of Narkel Kunj for the last three years. Recently log huts were built here. However, an outsider - a contractor from Agartala - was entrusted with the responsibility of the Log houses depriving the Suraksha Committee”.
People of several communities live here – we have no objection if local people of any of the communities are given the responsibility of Narkel Kunja.
Chakma said, “If our demand is not fulfilled, we will go for staging blockades on roads leading to Narkel Kunja and will not allow entry of anyone including tourists to the spot.”