Amidst growing resentment and public anger over construction of citywide covered drain during rainy season, which was causing tremendous hardship for Agartala city dwellers, specially unavoidable daily massive traffic jams across the city, a group of city dwellers on Friday raised massive protest over construction of covered drain by occupying their own ‘Jute’ land.

The simultaneous construction of covered drains in every nook and corner of the city covering all roads, the some city dwellers of Ker Chowmuhani area of Agartala raised protest over construction covered drain by illegally occupying their own ‘Jute’ land.

As a result, the Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC), Dipak Majumder along with Commissioner of Agartala Smart City Mission, Dr Shailesh Kumar Yadav with a jumbo team of AMC officials on Friday visited Ker Chowmuhani area and had discussion with local people.

Local people along with known advocate Sandip Datta Chodhury raised their objection over construction of covered drain by occupying their jute land and alleged that government and AMC have to construct the drain in ‘Khas’ land and if AMC need more land from ‘Jute’ portion of city dwellers, then they have to compensate affected dwellers.

They also alleged that on another side of the road, AMC constructed the covered drain only in Khas land, but on the other portion of road, they were illegally occupying the ‘Jute’ land without any permission.

While, after resolving all disputes amicably among AMC and residents of Ker Choumohai area, the Mayor speaking with media persons said that AMC in association with the state government has taken massive city development plans for beautification and to get rid of flooding city condition. As part of the plan, a major project for construction of covered drain in all city roads has going on rapidly for overall welfare of the AMC residents, said Majumder and added that in some areas they receiving resistance from local and in some areas, the city dwellers willingly contributing their best for smooth construction of drains.

He said that wherever the AMC faces problems over construction, they mutually resolve all disputes with local people. Similarly, the dispute arising in Ker Chowmuhani area has been mutually resolved and local residents contributing their best for overall development of city amenities.

He hoped soon the city dwellers will get rid off from flood like conditions in the rainy season,  traffic jam free wide roads.

Meanwhile, advocate Sandip Datta Chowdhury said that AMC should impartially construct the covered drain by occupying only government ‘Khas’ land and if they illegally occupy ‘Jute’ land without permission, then city dwellers have every right to knock the door of court for their accurate compensation.