Agartala, 1st May 2026 : Amid rising water scarcity in Tripura, residents of Maichhara Binapani Club area under Purba Kalabaria Gram Panchayat in Belonia subdivision staged a road blockade protesting acute drinking water shortage.
Villagers alleged they have been suffering for nearly 10 days due to disrupted water supply caused by power failures affecting the treatment plant. Though authorities had promised water supply via tankers, it has not been properly implemented.
Initially, some water was supplied, but now even that has nearly stopped, forcing residents to travel long distances to collect water—causing severe hardship, especially for women, children, and the elderly.
Frustrated by inaction, villagers blocked the Belonia–Shantirbazar road, disrupting traffic for some time. They also alleged that no Panchayat representative had visited the area to assess the situation.
After about 20 minutes, Panchayat Pradhan Sahadev Das arrived and assured regular tanker supply until a permanent solution is found. Following his assurance, the blockade was lifted.
However, residents warned of stronger protests if the issue is not resolved promptly. They also demanded a separate treatment plant, stating that the existing system is insufficient due to increased connections and poor pipeline infrastructure.
The Panchayat Pradhan admitted that only two water tankers are serving the entire area, which is inadequate, and emphasized the need for more resources until normal supply resumes.
