Hill Dwellers Block Assam-Agartala National Highway in Tripura Over Acute Water Crisis
Residents of Atharamura Hills staged a five-hour blockade on the Assam-Agartala National Highway in Tripura on Thursday, protesting against a severe drinking water crisis that has plagued the area for nearly a month.
The blockade, which took place in the 36-mile area under Mungiakami block, was lifted only after authorities assured the demonstrators that their demands would be addressed promptly.
The villagers, hailing from several settlements in the 36-mile area of Mungiakami, have been enduring an acute shortage of drinking water. According to local sources, despite a water supply point located beside the highway, water has not been distributed regularly. The authorities had promised a twice-daily water supply, but the irregular distribution left the residents grappling with a worsening water crisis. The disruption in water supply continued reportedly for nearly a month and concerned authority allegedly did not pay heed to the plights of the hill dwellers.
Desperation drove the community to block the Assam-Agartala National Highway, disrupting traffic on this vital route. Coincidentally, the Chief Minister’s convoy was en route to Ambassa at the time, though the Chief Minister himself was not in the vehicle.
The vehicles of the convoy remained stranded even as Police tried to clear roads for the convoy. The blockade caused significant delays, leaving a large number of passenger vehicles and goods-laden trucks stranded on both sides of the road.
Upon receiving reports of the protest, Sub-Divisional Police Officer Pannalal Sen, Officer-in-Charge of Mungiakami police station Gautam Debbarma, and senior officials from the Teliamura sub-divisional office, including the Deputy Collector and Magistrate (DCM), swiftly arrived at the scene.
After extensive discussions with the protesters, the officials managed to secure an agreement, with assurances that the water crisis would be resolved soon. Following this, the blockade was lifted after nearly five hours.
(Tripura, Northeast)
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