AGARTALA/UDAIPUR, August 10 (TIWN): The bulldoze of the cemented embankment of the kalyan Sagar lake is stopped for a temporary period of time over past few days following the incessant rain which had severely affected the livelihood of the people, said DFO Dr. W. Bhutiya.

Talking to TIWN correspondent on Sunday, Dr. Bhutiya further said that bulldoze of the embankment work is stopped at the kalayan sagar lake as the labourers engaged denied to work in the heavy rain and it is also very hectic to work during the heavy downpour.

He further added that though the rain has stopped but the work has not yet resumed and there is no tentative date when the work will begin again.

A committee meeting is scheduled to be hold with the district administrative body soon to decide the next date when bulldoze of the embankment work would again resume at the kalayan Sagar lake, confirmed Dr. Bhutiya.

Demolishing of the cemented embankment of most of the part of the eastern side of the lake is almost done and the next date for the demolishing of the cemented embankment would be decided in the meeting, said Bhutiya.  

It is to be mentioned here that, in a recent hearing, High Court of Tripura directed the state government to complete all works related to safeguarding of the Bostami turtle of the Kalayasagar Lake by 16 November.

A HC division bench led by Chief justice Deepak Gupta and Justice Subhasis Talapatra ordered the concerned department to take the immediate action for the preservation of the turtle and to complete all the protection work by November 16.

Acting on the order of the High Court given on 22 June, Chief Secretary Yash pal Singh submitted the required affidavit to the court mentioning the several steps to be taken for the preservation of the bostami turtle of Udaipur Kalyansagar Lake.

Reportedly, after the construction of cemented embankment in all the four sides of Kalyansagar natural habitat available for the tortoise has been minimized drastically. In simple word the ecosystem has been destroyed due to the cemented wall of the lake. The normal reproduction of the turtle has been disturbed by the cemented wall.

The hatchery constructed as an artificial breeding ground for the turtle is not serving its purposes. The artificial breeding ground for the turtle has been a great failure. It is not used by the turtle for breeding purposes.

However, Dr. Bhutiya further said that breeding of the turtle is satisfactory and temporary hatcheries are also prepared for the turtles to breed.