By TC News Desk
Agartala, 13th May 2025: A poultry farm owner in Dakshin Charilam Chowmuhani Para found himself surrounded by nearly 200 frustrated villagers this morning as complaints over unbearable stench and swarms of flies reached a breaking point. Residents accused Swapan Debnath, an influential businessman and owner of the poultry farm, of turning their lives into a nightmare. The villagers, while acknowledging his right to do business, voiced their suffering caused by the farm’s environmental impact.
“We have no objection to you running your poultry farm. But the stench and flies have made our lives miserable. We are forced to cover our faces even inside our homes, and our children cannot step outside,” one resident told Debnath.Several villagers lamented that even guests declined to attend social gatherings due to the overwhelming presence of flies. Rubber plantation owners nearby had reportedly halted sap collection, fearing contamination.
Facing mounting pressure, Debnath assured the villagers that urgent corrective measures were underway. “I am deeply ashamed of the inconvenience caused. I have brought a state-of-the-art machine from Punjab, which will ensure proper waste disposal and control fly infestation. The farm will be cleaned twice daily, and high-quality pesticides will be used to prevent insect breeding,” he stated.However, the businessman pointed to a labor shortage due to ongoing rice harvesting, delaying immediate implementation. He promised to distribute adhesive fly traps to affected households and gradually empty and sanitize the farm.
“If the villagers are not at peace, this business holds no value for me,” Debnath affirmed, pledging that if conditions did not improve within a month, he would voluntarily shut down the farm.
Despite his assurances, residents remain skeptical. “If he fails to deliver on his promise, we will return and shut the farm ourselves,” a villager warned. Meanwhile, accusations surfaced against the Pollution Board, with locals alleging negligence in enforcing environmental regulations. Officials have yet to respond to claims that mandatory assessments of poultry farms were overlooked in this case.
