Agartala, August 6: In response to a petition filed by the Forum for Environmental and Water Conservation, the Tripura Human Rights Commission has intervened in the ongoing legal proceedings concerning the redevelopment of the MBB College Lake, also referred to as the Collegetilla Lake project, under the Agartala Smart City Mission.
The forum had earlier filed Case No. 98/2025, currently pending before the Commission. Citing a report published in the North East Colours English daily on August 5, the forum raised concerns over an official announcement by Agartala Smart City Limited to inaugurate the lake project on August 15, 2025.
According to the forum, such an announcement—made while the matter is still subjudice—amounts to a fait accompli and could potentially render the ongoing legal proceedings ineffective. It argued that moving ahead with the inauguration may defeat the very purpose of the case and compromise public interest as well as environmental safeguards.
Taking the matter seriously, the Commission observed that any official inauguration of the MBB College Lake Project at this stage could have an adverse impact on the ongoing case. Accordingly, the Commission has recommended that all concerned departments, including Urban Development Department, Revenue Department, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, CEO of Agartala Smart City Limited and West Tripura District Magistrate’s Office refrain from taking any further steps to inaugurate or operationalize the project until the matter is fully resolved or further directives are issued by the Commission.
The Commission also clarified that even if a formal date has already been announced, the inauguration must be postponed until the legal proceedings are concluded.
