BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 2nd June 2025 : Raising serious concerns about alleged corruption in the Agartala Smart City drainage project, Congress President Ashish Kumar Saha today has demanded a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
Addressing a press conference at the Pradesh Congress Bhavan on Monday, Saha criticized the state government’s handling of flood relief efforts following the severe floods that struck Tripura in August last year. He pointed out that despite Congress raising multiple demands in an all-party meeting—including financial assistance and compensation for flood victims—the government has failed to take any concrete steps to address these issues.
Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman, who also attended the press briefing, echoed these concerns. He stated that the Congress party had submitted constructive proposals during the recent assembly session aimed at benefiting the people affected by the floods. Unfortunately, these proposals have yet to be acted upon by the government.
Barman further highlighted the persistent problem of waterlogging across Agartala, where even moderate rainfall leads to severe flooding. He compared the current situation to the previous Left Front government’s tenure when Agartala was notoriously referred to as a ‘cauldron’ due to its chronic drainage problems. The former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and ex-Minister Manik Dey had reportedly made similar claims to mask administrative failures at the time.
The current government had promised to prioritize measures to prevent waterlogging in Agartala city. One widely publicized but scientifically questioned proposal was the construction of a dam on the Howrah River. Subsequently, the central government entrusted Tata Company with the responsibility to revamp the drainage system as part of the Smart City project.
However, following heavy rainfall of about 200 mm on May 31, large parts of the city remained submerged under waist- and chest-deep water. Saha questioned the efficiency of the drainage work carried out by Tata, citing the continuous flooding and increasing road heights that aggravate water accumulation, often flooding houses at lower elevations.
“The weak drainage system and poor implementation have caused significant damage to residents. It is imperative to investigate whether there have been any errors or deviations in the renovation work assigned to Tata,” said Saha.
The Congress leaders demanded transparency and accountability from the government and urged an immediate probe into the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the Agartala Smart City project to ensure the safety and welfare of the people.
