Agartala, 4th October 2026 : Residents of Khowai have halted the construction of a boundary wall after alleging irregularities and the use of substandard materials in a municipal development project.
The incident took place at Office Tilla under Ward No. 12 of Khowai Municipal Council, where a boundary wall is being constructed behind the Dharapat Anganwadi Centre.
According to local residents, construction work was being carried out on Saturday and Sunday, when government offices remained closed. They alleged that substandard steel rods were being used in the construction. During the casting of the beam, 5-mm rods were allegedly used to make the rings instead of the specified 8-mm rods.
After noticing the alleged irregularity, residents intervened and stopped the workers from continuing the construction work.
The locals further alleged that after the matter came to light, an attempt was made to break the already-cast beam and remove the rods used in it. However, the attempt was reportedly prevented by the residents. Later, 8-mm rods were brought to the site for the construction work.
Municipal sources said the contract for construction of the boundary wall behind the Dharapat Anganwadi Centre at Office Tilla had been awarded to contractor Rupak Pal. The residents have raised questions over whether the construction is being carried out according to the prescribed standards and specifications.
The residents also alleged that development works being carried out in different wards of Khowai Municipal Council often lack proper supervision. They claimed that municipal engineers, who are expected to regularly inspect construction sites and monitor the quality of work, are frequently absent from the sites.
The incident has triggered resentment among local residents, who have demanded that the work remain suspended until municipal officials conduct an on-site inspection and verify the quality of the construction.
Residents said they would submit a written complaint to the Chief Executive Officer of Khowai Municipal Council, who is also the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Khowai, on Monday. They demanded that construction resume only after an administrative inquiry and necessary action. Meanwhile, neither the contractor nor the Khowai Municipal Council has issued any official statement regarding the allegations of corruption or deliberate use of substandard materials. The veracity of the allegations will be established only after an official inspection or inquiry.
