Speaking to reporters, Kiran Dinkarrao Gitte, Secretary, Public Works Department (PWD), who led the visiting team, said, “In our state, an unprecedented flood situation happened last year. Many embankments in many of our rivers have broken down, many were damaged. The highest recorded rainfall (in the state) occurred in South Tripura. Our (repair) work is continuing here. Some work is already underway on the left and right banks of the River Muhuri… All such repair and reconstruction work will end in two months.”

The official cited Chief Minister Manik Saha’s statement in the budget session of the Assembly last month, wherein Saha said that the government has identified 43 locations requiring flood management-related work.

He added that the Water Resource Department and the Flood Management Department were also working to repair and reconstruct the old embankments that had broken down or were damaged in the floods last year.

The PWD secretary said that since more work is to be done in Belonia, they have decided to post five engineers from elsewhere on deputation in the border town so that the remaining work can be expedited.

The official, though, did not comment on the issue of Bangladesh constructing an embankment close to the border near Belonia.

Nikhil Chandra Gope, Chairperson, Belonia Municipal Council, said they had intimated officials right at the beginning when Bangladesh started constructing the embankment. “Our demand is to protect Belonia town by raising the embankment on our side by at least 1 or 2 metre.”

“Work has started from the pucca bridge to the check post corner via the BSF camp by raising the embankment with soil. We are requesting officials to use concrete blocks instead of soil alone, as soil can be washed away by rainwater… There is a hindrance from the Bangladesh side all the time, but we are trying to make sure to protect Belonia,” he said.

A local villager said they had approached the MLA and other public representatives after reports of the construction of an embankment by Bangladesh surfaced a few months ago.

“We approached them, but none came at the time. Now, they have come on a visit after Bangladesh has completed the embankment on their side. The correct step would be to cut a trench and connect with an adjoining river to make sure that any excess water flows into it,” the villager said.

The issue of the construction of embankment by Bangladesh was raised by local CPI(M) MLA Dipankar Sen on Saturday. Flagging the issue, he requested the South Tripura district magistrate and senior BSF officials to take up the matter with the Centre, so that a dialogue could be initiated with the Bangladesh authorities.

In January, the state government had expressed concern over the reported construction of an embankment on the River Manu by the Bangladesh Government close to the international border near Devipur under Tripura’s Unakoti district.

A team led by Dilip Kumar Chakma, District Magistrate, Unakoti, had then inspected the site from the zero point and warned that the Kailasahar township could face devastating floods owing to the embankment right across the border. The district magistrate had also submitted a note to the state government on his findings.

The matter was also raised by Congress MLA Birajit Sinha in the Winter Session of the Assembly.

Chief Minister Manik Saha had then assured the House that he would talk to the Centre and request it to take up the matter with Bangladesh.

As per the 1971 Indira-Mujib pact, any permanent construction within 150 yards on both sides of the zero line is not allowed.

In 2024, false reports regarding the opening of floodgates at the Dumbur hydroelectric power project in Tripura’s Gomati district led to a massive outcry in Bangladesh. However, the Government of India clarified that the floodgates were never opened.