AGARTALA, May 10 (TIWN): Locals of Agartala Howrah river banks, who have been served with notices with strict orders to vacate homes within 7 days, have decided to talk to the Chief Minister Biplab Deb. The locals who are living on govt lands since around 40 years are ready to release the spaces but they need proper rehabilitation in exchange of that. Yesterday meeting the MLA Asish Saha the locals had raised the issue immediately after getting the notices of being bulldozed. Another MLA of that area is none other than the Chief Minister himself who won the election with huge votes from Banamalipur constituency and thus the locals to meet Biplab Deb to talk about the crisis situation. The reason behind the eviction was taken after the govt handed over dam-construction work on Howrah river to a private company to stop the flood damages due to the erosion of the Howrah river. Earlier the Chief Minister Biplab Deb said that Howrah river to serve 3 purposes : 1) Water storage, 2) Flood controlling, 3) Power plant. Following those purposes now lakhs of people are undergoing ‘bulldozing’ tensions.The decision was taken on 11-4-2018 which was only after 1 month of the Govt had assumed the charge. In the notice, Govt ordered them to release the spaces which are occupied by them but within next 7 days they have to release the place.

On yesterday lhe locals called MLA Ashish Saha demanding immediate cancellations of the letters. However, Asish Saha couldn’t give any immediate solution of the problem, saying he is looking into the matter. Today the locals said, they will leave those places but in exchange of new houses.

In the notice it has been written, "Whereas it appears that a letter has been issued by the Sub-divisional Magistrate, Sadar vide No F 4 (40) / SDM / SDR / REV / 2018 / 1129-31 dated 11-04-2018 regarding the unauthorized encroachment at Pratapgarh RCC Bridge and upstream & downstream of the Chandramohon Setu for a length of 100 mtrs under Sadar East T K".

"Now you are ordered to vacant the possession of the said land and remove all the structure. Otherwise you will be evicted from the said land as per law", the letter signed by DCM Agartala East Revenue Circle said. 

From Govt side, no statement has been given in this regard.