Following allegations from Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman accusing the BJP-led Tripura government of violating land-allotment regulations, Transport and Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury swiftly countered the claims, describing them as “false and misleading.” Speaking at a press conference at the State Secretariat on Sunday evening, Chowdhury provided clarity on the matter, asserting that the government had adhered to proper procedures in its dealings with Shija Hospital and Research Institute.
According to the minister, Shija Hospital had expressed interest in establishing a super-specialty hospital in Tripura as early as December 2023. “The state government’s policy encourages private organizations that wish to invest in sectors like agriculture, industry, education, and health,” Chowdhury said. “It is within this framework that we initiated the search for appropriate land to support Shija Hospital’s proposal.”
Chowdhury explained that after identifying 28 acres of unused land under the Animal Resources Development (ARD) Department in RK Nagar, the government obtained a No Objection Certificate from the Animal Husbandry Development Department. The proposal was then forwarded to the District Magistrate of West Tripura for further processing, with plans to bring it to the Cabinet for discussion through the Revenue Department.
In his response to Sudip Roy Barman’s allegations, Chowdhury accused the opposition of deliberately misleading the public. “When a company proposes an investment of ₹900 crore that will significantly enhance the state’s infrastructure, it is the government’s responsibility to allocate land for such development,” he said. He further criticized Barman, saying, “It seems he rushed to make baseless accusations against the government. Damaging the reputation of a government committed to the welfare of the state and its people is not an easy task.”
Chowdhury also cited past examples of land allocations for healthcare projects, such as the 15 acres provided to Cachar Cancer Hospital for setting up a facility in Dharmanagar, and land granted to ILS Hospital during the tenure of the previous government. He emphasized that the development of healthcare infrastructure in Tripura is a priority, as it would reduce the need for patients to seek treatment outside the state.
“There is a clear need for super-specialty hospitals in Tripura, and the state government is working towards that goal,” Chowdhury stated. He concluded by reiterating the government’s commitment to improving healthcare facilities for the benefit of the state’s citizens. The press conference was also attended by Kiran Gitte, Secretary of the Health Department, who echoed the minister’s views on the necessity of health infrastructure development in the state.
