Tripura Congress raises allegations of corruption in drainage work in Agartala, demands probe

Tripura Congress President Ashish Kumar Saha on Monday has demanded a thorough investigation into alleged corruption in the Agartala Smart City drainage project. 

Speaking at a press conference held at the Pradesh Congress Bhavan on Monday, Saha raised serious concerns over the project's execution, following the devastating floods that hit the region in August last year.

Saha criticized the state government for its failure to provide timely financial assistance to flood victims, despite multiple demands made by the Congress party in an all-party meeting aimed at addressing public interest and relief efforts. "The government has taken no initiative to assess or compensate the flood-affected families," he asserted.

Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman, who also attended the press briefing, echoed these concerns. He stated that the Congress had submitted constructive proposals during the assembly session to mitigate flooding and improve drainage, but the government has shown little to no action on these fronts. "This inaction is not just limited to Agartala but is evident throughout the state," Barman added.

Waterlogging continues to plague Agartala even after moderate rainfall, a problem reminiscent of the previous Left Front government’s tenure.

Barman recalled how former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and ex-Minister Manik Dey had often described the city as a “cauldron” prone to flooding, a claim now seen as a cover-up of their administrative failures.

The current government had promised to tackle water accumulation issues decisively, including proposing the construction of a dam on the Howrah river. However, experts have criticized this plan as lacking scientific merit. Subsequently, the central government entrusted Tata Group with the responsibility to improve the drainage system under the Agartala Smart City initiative.

Despite receiving 200 mm of rainfall on May 31, the city experienced waist-deep to chest-deep waterlogging, far exceeding the anticipated eight-inch accumulation. Barman questioned the effectiveness of Tata’s work and pointed to the deteriorating drainage infrastructure, rising road levels, and sinking house foundations as contributing factors.

He urged authorities to launch a detailed probe to determine if there have been any irregularities or deviations in Tata’s renovation work. "Many houses have been submerged due to the weak drainage system," he said, stressing the need for accountability and transparency.

The Congress leaders’ demands for investigation come amid growing public frustration over recurrent flooding and perceived government negligence, raising serious questions about the implementation of Agartala’s Smart City projects.