Kiran Gitte, the Secretary of Tripura's Public Works Department (PWD), will visit the Ballamukh and Ishan Chandranagar villages in the Belonia subdivision on Sunday. This visit comes after villagers expressed concerns over the reconstruction of a levee near the Muhuri River in Kalikapur, Bangladesh (Feni District).
The Dam Project Nears Completion
Bangladesh has nearly completed an 8 to 9 feet high dam at Kalikapur to block the floodwaters that flow from India. This development takes place amidst escalating trade tensions between India and Bangladesh.
Legislator Dipankar Sen informed news agency PTI, 'Bangladesh is constructing this dam to safeguard Kalikapur and adjacent areas, but it has led to grave concerns in Indian villages - North Belonia, Ballamukh, and Ishan Chandranagar.'
Flood Risks for Indian Villages
He shared that during his recent visit, villagers conveyed that the dam would obstruct the floodwaters from India, thereby increasing the risk of severe waterlogging and floods in the low-lying areas of 3 to 4 Indian villages.
Villagers Demand Canal Construction
The villagers demand the creation of a canal from Ballamukh to Ishan Chandranagar, extending to Kalikapur, to allow floodwaters to drain during the monsoon. Previously, the legislator met with South Tripura's District Magistrate Mohammad Sajjad P. to discuss the issue and apprise him of the local community's concerns.
Confirming Gitte's visit, South Tripura's ADM Pradeep K. stated, 'Gitte will tour the affected regions on Sunday to witness villagers' concerns first-hand.' However, he added, 'This is an international issue, so I cannot offer an official statement.'
