Tripura races to finish embankment repairs by June amid border row with Bangladesh

Amid growing local concern and diplomatic unease over alleged illegal construction by Bangladesh near the international border, the Tripura government has set an ambitious target to complete all flood protection works across the state by June this year. Speaking to the media after a field inspection in Belonia subdivision of South Tripura on Sunday, Kiran Gitte, Secretary of Tripura’s Public Works and Water Resources Departments, confirmed that flood management and embankment repair projects are currently underway at 43 different locations across the state. Tripura, which shares an 856-kilometre-long international border with Bangladesh, has been grappling with fears of increased flood risk following reports that Bangladeshi authorities are constructing a 1.5-kilometre-long and 20-foot-high embankment along the Muhuri River. The construction is allegedly happening as close as 10 to 50 yards from the zero line, in violation of international norms, which prohibit any kind of permanent construction within 150 yards of the border.

Raising the issue earlier this week, Dipankar Sen, the CPIM MLA representing Belonia Assembly Constituency, said the new embankment could have serious repercussions for Belonia town in the event of flooding. “If this construction continues unchecked, the natural water flow will be disrupted and Belonia could face severe flooding in the near future,” Sen warned. In response, a high-level team of officials from the Tripura government, led by Secretary Gitte, along with senior Border Security Force (BSF) officers, visited the affected area to assess the situation and interact with local residents. Gitte acknowledged the risks posed by the recent flood damage and underlined that several embankments had been weakened or washed away in last year’s unprecedented rains. He assured the public that comprehensive repair and maintenance work is underway, particularly in flood-prone regions like South Tripura.

“On both the left and right banks of the Muhuri River, work is actively being carried out,” Gitte stated. “We have already deployed engineers to speed up the process. Five engineers will now be stationed in Belonia on deputation to ensure the completion of flood protection works within the next two months. People should not panic. We are committed to delivering on time.” He further added that while construction has started in several locations, other sites are in various stages of planning and material procurement. “The goal is clear—by June, we want all the repair and construction of embankments completed to avoid any flood-related disasters in the coming monsoon,” he said.