By TC News Desk
Agartala, 24th April 2025: Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Asish Kumar Saha has written to Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, urging immediate construction of embankments in Belonia (South District) and Kailashahar (Unakoti District) to mitigate flood risks in the border regions.
In his letter, Saha expressed serious concern over recurring floods in the state’s border towns, attributing the situation to unregulated embankment construction by the Bangladesh government. He accused the state and central governments of maintaining a “conspicuous silence” on the issue.
Referring to last year’s floods in the Kailashahar-Bangladesh border region, Saha pointed out that the Bangladeshi authorities had constructed a high embankment on their side, leading to water accumulation and extensive crop damage in Kailashahar after even minimal rainfall.
“The lack of diplomatic response from our government raises serious questions,” Saha wrote. “What role did the central and state governments play when such a critical situation unfolded at the international border?”
The Congress leader further alleged that a similar embankment project is now underway at Belonia, again without adherence to international norms or bilateral consultation. “This negligence has already taken a toll—Belonia town has witnessed flooding in the past two days, submerging even the local hospital and damaging essential medicines,” he noted.
Saha blamed both the central and state governments for their inaction, particularly highlighting the Ministry of Home Affairs’ supposed unawareness of the situation. “Matters concerning the international border must follow strict protocols. The indifference shown so far is unacceptable,” he stated.
Raising concerns over the plight of residents in border villages, he pointed out that many families—especially from minority communities—have been forced to live outside the barbed wire fencing, despite holding valid Indian citizenship and land documents. “They are being treated as outsiders in their own land,” he said.
Calling for swift intervention ahead of the monsoon, the TPCC chief urged the Chief Secretary to initiate immediate flood-prevention work and ensure long-term protection for border populations, particularly through timely embankment construction in vulnerable zones like Belonia and Kailashahar
