Agartala: In response to mounting concerns from residents in Tripura’s border villages, Tripura PWD Secretary Kiran Gitte is set to visit Ballamukh and Ishan Chandranagar in the Belonia subdivision on Sunday, April 20.
The visit follows complaints from Indian villagers alarmed by Bangladesh’s embankment reconstruction efforts in Kalikapur, located in Feni district just across the international border.
According to officials, Bangladesh is nearing completion of an embankment—8 to 9 feet in height—aimed at protecting Kalikapur and nearby areas from seasonal floods originating on the Indian side. While the structure is designed to safeguard Bangladeshi territory, Indian villagers fear it could result in serious flooding in low-lying areas across the border in Tripura.
Local MLA Dipankar Sen, who recently visited the villages, said residents of Uttar Belonia, Ballamukh, and Ishan Chandranagar have voiced serious concerns. They warned that the elevated embankment could act as a barrier, trapping floodwaters in Indian territory during the monsoon. To mitigate the risk, the villagers have demanded the construction of a canal connecting Ballamukh to Kalikapur via Ishan Chandranagar to facilitate natural water flow.
Sen also held discussions with South Tripura District Magistrate Muhammad Sajad P., briefing him on the potential hazards raised by the embankment project. South Tripura’s Additional District Magistrate Pradeep K. confirmed Secretary Gitte’s scheduled visit and said the objective is to assess the situation on the ground and understand the villagers’ fears directly.
“This issue involves international dynamics, so I can’t offer any official comment at this stage,” the ADM added.
The development comes as a delicate matter between India and Bangladesh, with environmental, diplomatic, and local livelihood concerns at stake. Gitte’s visit is expected to play a critical role in determining the state’s next steps and possibly guiding diplomatic engagement on the issue.