Agartala: Tripura Leader of Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury on Monday urged Chief Minister Manik Saha to suspend the ongoing eviction drive until provisions for livelihood and alternative accommodation are made for families living below the poverty line.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, Chaudhury, a CPI (M) MLA, highlighted the plight of displaced families whose homes were recently demolished near the Border-Golchakkar area, close to the Akhaura Checkpost under the Agartala Municipal Corporation. Chaudhury, accompanied by CPI (M) MLAs Sudip Sarkar, Ramu Das, and former MLA Ratan Das, visited the site on Sunday to assess the situation.
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“For the past several days, houses belonging to poor working-class families—residents of the area for 6-7 decades—have been bulldozed to make way for an alternative national road. These demolitions have left families homeless and forced to live under the open sky in complete destitution,” Chaudhury stated in his letter.
He noted that nearly 99 percent of the displaced families, due to their low incomes, are unable to afford alternative housing or rental accommodations.
“With winter approaching, the situation is becoming dire. If immediate steps are not taken to provide shelter and basic amenities, these families will face a humanitarian crisis,” Chaudhury warned.
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The Leader of Opposition shared that some displaced families had submitted a memorandum to the government through him, requesting a halt to the eviction drive until alternative housing and compensation are provided.
Chaudhury also criticized the current government’s handling of the issue, pointing out that under the previous Left Front government, road alignments for the alternative national highway were planned with minimal displacement, and proper measures were taken to mitigate the impact on residents. However, a revised alignment introduced after 2018 has led to large-scale demolitions, uprooting many families.
“The actions of the Agartala Municipal Corporation and state administration, undertaken without offering alternative housing, are unwarranted, cruel, and inhumane,” he wrote.
Chaudhury appealed to the Chief Minister to prioritize the welfare of the affected families and ensure immediate arrangements for housing with basic amenities, along with livelihood support for those below the poverty line. He urged the government to suspend the eviction drive until these measures are implemented.
“I hope you will address this serious matter with compassion and take prompt action to prevent further suffering,” Chaudhury concluded.