Agartala, Aug 29: Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha on Friday said that the state government is considering utilizing water from the Titas River to supply safe drinking water to all 51 wards under the Agartala Municipal Corporation.
Speaking after inaugurating the Vivekananda Township Housing Project near Kaman Chowmuhani in Agartala, the Chief Minister said that ensuring clean and iron-free water is a priority. “The waters of Howrah, Kalapania, and Katakhal rivers merge with the Titas. We are exploring the feasibility of supplying drinking water to all 51 wards of AMC from the Titas River. A proposal has already been placed, and if everything goes as planned, we will raise the matter with the Centre,” he said.
The CM also handed over keys to the new four-storey housing complex comprising 48 earthquake-resistant flats built under the Tripura Urban Planning and Development Authority (TUDA). The ₹20.22 crore project provides housing for low-income, middle-income, and high-income groups, with facilities including 24-hour CCTV surveillance, lifts, uninterrupted power supply, drinking water, parking space, and proper drainage.
Dr. Saha noted that the state government has been relentlessly working on developmental projects. “From January to August this year, we have inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects worth around ₹800 crore. TUDA has been created to build quality housing for economically weaker sections and the middle class. Our goal is a comfortable lifestyle for all,” he said.
He further informed that another housing project comprising 216 flats, worth ₹96 crore, is under construction near Bhagat Singh Yuva Awas and is expected to be completed by March next year.
On urban planning, the CM said work is underway to prepare GIS-based master plans for 20 urban centers in the state, with Agartala’s master plan already 70% complete. Through Satellite Town Development and the Chief Minister’s Urban Development Scheme, the government plans to spend around ₹1,500 crore in the next five years. In the first phase of the ADB-supported Chief Minister’s Urban Development Project, work worth about ₹530 crore has already been initiated.
Dr. Saha also urged the Centre to consider reducing the loan burden of Externally Aided Projects (EAPs) for the state.
The programme was attended by AMC Mayor and MLA Deepak Majumdar, AMC Central Zone Chairperson Ratna Dutta, Urban Development Secretary Abhishek Singh, TUDA Commissioner Mihir Kanti Gopal, AMC Commissioner Dilip Kumar Chakma, and Urban Development Director Megha Jain, among others.
