KAMALPUR, April 30 (TIWN): The lack of timely maintenance and proper observation turned the one of the largest sluice gates of the undivided North Tripura district inactive. And as a result, almost 500 kanis of agricultural land remained deprived of irrigation. The scenario prevailed at Dalucharra area under Salema RD Block, here at Kamalpur.

During 1990-1991, a sluice gate was built on the stream Dalucharra at Jayantibazaar area under Salema RD Block by the then Congress-TUJS coalition state government.

Then the cost of the construction was almost 2, 75, 00, 000 rupees. The sluice gate became one of the largest sluice gate projects in the undivided North Tripura district. 

The gate provided the farmers of East Dalucharra and West Dalucharra the opportunity of irrigation. Almost 500 kanis of land came under irrigation due to that construction. For years, the farmers of the area produced huge profit and maintained the supply of crops in the sub-division.  But at present, the sluice gate turned inactive.

According to the local people, the sheets which were used to stop the flow of water to store became rusted with passing time and got porous. As a result, the sheets no more could store water.

Further, the joints between the sheets were done with rubber bands. Those also got rotten. In the past few years, some maintenance works got implemented.

But, the poor quality work and no surveillance from the part of the embezzlement happy officials, made the works to bear no result.

Now, the question arose here, if the present state government continued step-motherly attitude to this project due to the political rivalry or something else. The farmers of the locality, however, demanded early remedy to the plight of the project.