BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 20th September 2024: Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha on Friday strongly criticized the previous government for failing to meet the basic needs of the people in the state, particularly regarding access to clean drinking water.
Speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony for water supply improvement projects in 12 towns under the Mukhyamantri Nagar Unnayan Prakalpa at Rajarshi Town Hall, Udaipur, Dr. Saha highlighted the significant strides made by the current state government. “The Jal Jeevan Mission has been successfully implemented in rural areas, and now we aim to ensure 100 percent drinking water coverage in urban homes,” he stated.
During his address, Dr. Saha praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s developmental vision for the country. “PM Modi emphasizes ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat,’ and for India to excel, every state must progress. Unfortunately, the previous government did nothing to meet the public’s needs, focusing instead on blaming the Centre. Development in Tripura has accelerated since PM Modi took charge, providing us with the ‘diamond model’ that delivers multiple benefits.”
The Chief Minister expressed his satisfaction with the Urban Development Department’s initiative, noting that the state currently has 13 Municipal Councils, 6 Nagar Panchayats, and one Municipal Corporation. “For cities to thrive, we need proper roads, water supply, and drainage systems. The government, both at the central and state levels, is working tirelessly in this direction. Clean drinking water is a fundamental part of this development, and the installation of iron removal plants is crucial for providing safe water,” Dr. Saha emphasized.
He further announced that Rs 530 crore has been allocated in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank to expand the drinking water infrastructure in 12 towns under the Mukhyamantri Nagar Unnayan Prakalpa. “This project is to be completed within three years, and I urge public representatives and officials to monitor its progress closely. Approximately 4 lakh people from 75,000 families will benefit from the project, which also includes the construction of 18 kilometers of roads and 48 kilometers of drains, significantly improving urban transport and drainage systems,” Dr. Saha said.
He expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for their support in making this project possible.
The project, to be implemented on a cluster basis, will cover towns such as Khowai, Mohanpur, Ranirbazar, Bisramganj, Melaghar, Udaipur, Amarpur, Belonia, Kumarghat, Dharmanagar, Kailashahar, and Ambassa. As part of the initiative, 305 kilometers of pipelines will be laid, 25 deep tubewells installed, 18 iron removal plants set up, along with four water treatment plants and 19 overhead reservoirs.
Dr. Saha reiterated that the “double engine” government at both the state and central levels is working in unison to ensure that there is no gap in public welfare. The event was attended by Finance Minister Prananjit Singha Roy, MLA Abhishek Debroy, Urban Development Department Secretary Abhishek Singh, Gomati District Magistrate Tarit Kanti Chakma, Urban Development Department Director Rajat Pant, and several other dignitaries.
