Agartala, 3rd August 2026: Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Monday inspected the ongoing restoration and beautification work of the pond at Madhya Para Chalaman Sangha, near Prabhu Bari, and stressed the need to complete the project within the stipulated three-month timeframe.
Mayor Deepak Majumdar, Councillor Ratna Dutta and other officials accompanied the Chief Minister during the site visit. Dr. Saha examined the progress of the work and directed those concerned to accelerate the pace wherever necessary.
Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister said restoration of old ponds has become an important part of the government’s efforts to improve Agartala’s environment and revive its traditional water bodies. He said around 35 old ponds have already been renovated or restored, many of which were previously in a severely neglected condition.
“We have renovated and restored at least 35 old ponds. They were in very poor condition. The pond at Shivbari has also improved significantly. Similarly, the Prabhu Bari pond is very old and had faced encroachment. We brought it out of encroachment and thoroughly cleaned it,” Dr. Saha said.
He said he had received information that work at the Prabhu Bari site was progressing somewhat slowly and therefore decided to inspect it personally. “The work here is going well and progressing quickly. Still, we want it to be completed within three months,” he said.
According to the Chief Minister, the estimated expenditure for the development of the pond is around ₹3.5 crore. He said such projects would contribute to improving the environment and overall appearance of Agartala.
Dr. Saha added that development works in the capital are being undertaken through multiple sources, including Asian Development Bank assistance and Smart City initiatives. “I am not saying everything is 100 percent complete, but at least 85 percent has been done well. There is still more to be done,” he said.
He also recalled his childhood association with Madhya Para, saying he used to frequently visit and play in the area.
Taking a dig at previous governments, Dr. Saha said the present administration was focused on addressing people’s problems rather than creating them. He stressed that development must go hand in hand with the restoration of heritage and traditional assets.
“Solving people’s problems is the true objective. It is development on one hand and restoration of our heritage on the other, and we are working in that direction,” he said.
