Opposition CPI (M) strongly criticized the state government for decreasing civic amenities and alleged poor implementation of the Agartala Smart City projects.

Addressing a press conference senior CPI(M) leader and former Urban Development Minister Manik Dey accompanied by former MP, Sankar Prasad Datta, former deputy Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) and party leader Amal Chakraborty at CPI(M) headquarters in Agartala on Thursday afternoon said that the present Corporation and state government totally failed to improve the civic amenities across Agartala and day to day its deteriorating due to failure one after one projects.

Dey said that the suffering of the citizens living in AMC areas has extended its peak as many components under Smart City projects failed and the government has also totally failed to implement these projects.

He said that in the year 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced to make 100 smart cities across the court, but that time Agartala city was not included in the list and the Left Front government raised its protest. The Left government has also asked the central government why not Agartala city should not be included in 100 smart cities, said Dey and added that finally, the central government accepted the state’s request and brought the city under Smart City Mission.

Dey said that initially, the centres had promised for Rs. 500 crore and the state government has also contributed as 50:50 ratio. “We have raised our objections over 50:50 ratio and demanded for 90:10 ratio for all Northeastern states,” said Dey and added that later a DPR of estimated total cost of Rs.3000 crore has been placed and centre has released an amount of Rs. 490 crore and state government has also released Rs. 52 crore instead of require amount of Rs. 490 crore.

He added that the smart city mission plan has included high-quality roads with proper drainage system, multi-storey parking facilities, modern markets, resettlement plans for all slum dwellers  and all-weather roads. But, at present, the state government did nothing as per plans.

He said that during the period of last seven years, not a single family living in slum areas has been rehabilitated and no other plans to improve the footpaths of the city and congestion free roads etc.

Dey, mentioning details of many components under smart city mission,  alleged that AMC in the last few years has totally failed to bring funds from the centre for development and Mayor just moving one place to another place for photo-session, but in reality there is no development, any market, any roads.

He said that at present the road conditions are so deplorable that city dwellers are facing tremendous hardship in absence of maintenance and massive traffic congestions make it worse.

Mentioning the flood conditions in Agartala city, Dey alleged that after a few spells of rain, the city became inundated and water logging became permanent problems for city dwellers.

He also alleged that as per plan, there is no improvement in city drainage systems and in absence of sufficient water pumping machines, the flood like situation in Agartala is now a permanent problem for city dwellers.

He also strongly criticized the state government and AMC for the severe drinking water crisis in and around the city. “Instead of improving civic amenities, the double-engine governments  have raised huge property tax, hike all fees including trade license and imposed heavy water tax on city dwellers,” said Dey and appealed to the state government to take minimum steps to improve the civic amenities.