Amidst reports of forcible subscription collections by Durga Puja Committees, Chief Minister of Tripura, Prof. Dr. Manik Saha issued a directive on Wednesday, urging the Tripura Police to take stringent measures against individuals who forcibly collect puja subscriptions by stopping vehicles on the state’s roads.
The announcement was made during the inauguration of the ‘Fish Transhipment Yard‘ situated in Nagicherra, on the outskirts of Agartala city on Thursday.
Expressing his concerns, Dr. Saha condemned the practice of stopping vehicles on the road to collect money for puja subscriptions. He labelled this activity as entirely illegal and decried individuals who exploit the pretext of the puja for financial gain.
He stated, “What kind of culture is this? We witnessed such practices during the previous government. I’ve informed the police that our government will not tolerate such actions and directed them to take strict measures. This has become a bad habit.”
CM opens Fish Transhipment Yard’
Notably, the ‘Fish Transhipment Yard’ was constructed at a cost of approximately Rs. 3.50 crore, with assistance from the Special Plan Assistant, Agartala Municipal Corporation, and the Rural Development Department.
Dr Saha emphasized that this new facility will play a pivotal role in alleviating traffic congestion within Agartala city and maintaining the cleanliness of market areas.
He further highlighted the developmental focus of the government, noting, “We can’t transform forest land into a modernized city since 67% of our land is covered by forests. We’re utilizing land for development where forests are not present. The land for the Fish Transhipment Yard was allocated in 2017, but work began after our government came into power. This isn’t limited to just here, but is happening in other places as well. Another name of development is Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and both the Central and State governments led by the BJP.”
The Chief Minister underlined the BJP’s dedication to development and refuted claims that the previous government had witnessed a ‘golden era’.
He said, “We’ve seen what transpired in the past. There wasn’t a single development project completed in the last 35 years, except the construction of some buildings, community halls, and bridges in Agartala city alone. The condition of roads was deplorable throughout the state. Real progress is now underway. CPIM knows how to navigate politics in a convoluted manner, but we know how to tackle problems and prioritize the people’s development.”
Dr. Saha further explained that the newly inaugurated Fish Transhipment Yard has the capacity to unload approximately 100 tons of fish daily, with all necessary facilities in place for those bringing fish from Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. This development is set to ease traffic congestion and reduce pollution caused by fish transport within the city.
The Chief Minister also urged the local community to maintain peace and harmony in the area.
Notable figures such as Deputy Speaker Ram Prasad Paul, Mayor Dipak Majumder, Commissioner of AMC Dr. Shailesh Kumar Yadav, West District Magistrate Dr. Vishal Kumar, and others were present during the inauguration ceremony.
