BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 19th January 2026 : Residents of Kanchanmala have raised strong protests against the daily dust pollution caused by hundreds of sand-laden tipper trucks transporting sand to the ongoing Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) project site near Sekerkote railway station. Despite repeated complaints, both the subdivision and West Tripura district administrations have remained silent, prompting locals to take matters into their own hands.
Work on the IOCL project at Sekerkote began several years back, requiring massive quantities of sand to be dumped at the site. Every day, trucks from different areas deliver loads of sand, with nearly 100 trucks alone operating from Kanchanmala from morning till evening.
While the project continues at full pace, the constant movement of these trucks has created severe dust pollution. Pedestrians and commuters often find themselves engulfed in clouds of dust, forced to wait several minutes on the roadside until visibility clears.
Local residents have repeatedly urged truck drivers and their managers to sprinkle water on the roads at least two to three times daily to reduce dust. However, no such measures have been taken. Even after complaints were escalated to the West Tripura district administration, no action has been initiated to address the issue.
This evening, frustrated residents of Kanchanmala blocked several soil-laden trucks in protest. They demanded the presence of the managers, but none turned up. The agitated crowd then issued a stern warning to drivers: unless proper water sprinkling is carried out daily, trucks will not be allowed to transport soil from the area.
The protesters have urged both the Sadar subdivision and West Tripura district administrations to take immediate steps to protect public health and ensure dust-free roads. They warned that if authorities continue to remain indifferent, residents will intensify their agitation and resort to road blockades in the coming days.
