AGARTALA, January 27 (TIWN): Tripura is on the high risk of massive earthquake as it is situated on seismic zone-­V and has probability of occurrence earthquakes measuring more than 8 magnitudes on Richter scale. Though, it indicates massive collateral damage in the form of casualties and mass injuries but the state government is not taking any preventive measure to manage in case of any natural disaster.A recent survey found that the capital city- Agartala is uniquely positioned to render massive physical damage to the residents in any natural calamities like earthquakes above 6.5 magnitudes on the Richter scale occurs. Though, the state government has already identified 2,000 vulnerable buildings including Ujjayanta Palace, abode of former princely rulers of the state in the heart of Agartala town, Raj Bhavan, Neer Mahal, a lake palace built by Tripura’s last king Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya in 1933, MBB College and a large number of school buildings, but no proper preventive measure was adopted by the state government till date.The state administration and concerned department is maintaining to arrange mock drills to aware the people about the preventive measures to be taken at the time of any disaster, but all these insufficient trainings may go to vain as most of these buildings may completely collapse at the time of earthquake.

 Besides, several high storied buildings are being constructed everyday flaunting rules which are a real threat at the time of earthquake.

Despite these findings, at the time while the state government needs to take preventive measures, it is busy in scams and investing money in other illegal construction businesses. Recently, the state government remains busy over multiple issues of spurious drugs, atrocities against women, corruption, malfunctioning of PDS, chit fund, deterioration of law and order, underdevelopment of tribal people and deprivation of employees. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar staying tight lipped over the increasing crimes and intensifying agitation across the state.

The uninterrupted 21 year stint in power seems to have taken a toll on the financial transparency of the Left Front administration in Tripura. Corruption in implementation of rural development schemes continues unabated. Instead, the state government allegedly eats up all the money which comes from the central government for development. The Left Front led state government does not take care about the people of the state and their problems.

According to the records of the Indian Meteorological Department, 41 earthquakes of 5.6 or lower magnitude have occurred within the coordinates 23.00­25.00ºN and 91.00­93.00ºE encompassing Tripura during the period 1970 to 2000. The city was severely damaged by an earthquake of 8.7 magnitudes in the year 1897 when the royal palace was also fully destroyed. Earthquakes of high magnitude over the last 200 years in the region are Earthquake of 10 January 1869 (Magnitude 7.5), Shillong plateau earthquake of 12 June 1897 (8.7), Srimangal earthquake of 1918 (7.6), Dubri earthquake of 1930 (7.1), Assam earthquake of 15 August 1950 (8.5).