Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma assures urgent action on drinking water shortages, damaged roads, and infrastructure gaps in Raima Valley villages, including Bru rehabilitation centres, promising development beyond politics and long-awaited relief for neglected tribal communities.
Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma on Friday assured immediate intervention to address long-standing complaints of poor infrastructure and drinking water shortages in tribal-inhabited areas of the Raima Valley. The assurance came after a delegation of residents from Ultacherra and Kalajhari villages met the minister at his official residence in Agartala.
The delegation included members from the Bru refugee rehabilitation centre and other tribal families residing in non-tribal dominated pockets of the 44 Raima Valley constituency. They alleged that despite decades of governance under the Left Front and five years of the present Autonomous District Council (ADC) administration, essential services such as potable water, all-weather roads, and proper drainage systems remain grossly inadequate.
Villagers highlighted the daily hardships they face due to crumbling road infrastructure and limited access to safe drinking water. During the monsoon season, roads become muddy and flooded, cutting off access to schools, markets, and healthcare centres. Elderly residents and school-going children are often the worst affected, as transportation becomes nearly impossible.
Many families, residents said, are compelled to fetch drinking water from distant tube wells or nearby streams, raising serious public health concerns. The absence of reliable water supply systems has led to increased risks of waterborne diseases, particularly among children and senior citizens.
After listening to the grievances, Minister Debbarma directed concerned officials to conduct urgent field surveys and prepare proposals for comprehensive drinking water projects and road repairs in the affected villages. He emphasized that governance must transcend party politics and focus on ensuring fundamental rights for all citizens.
“Politics should never be built on people’s deprivation. Development must rise above party lines. Providing lasting solutions to those who have been denied basic rights for years is our priority,” Debbarma said during the meeting.
The minister also criticized certain political leaders for allegedly exploiting tribal sentiments without delivering concrete improvements. According to him, emotional rhetoric has often replaced practical development initiatives, particularly in areas like Bru rehabilitation centres where infrastructure remains weak.
Administrative sources later confirmed that preliminary assessments would begin shortly, focusing on water supply expansion, road strengthening, and drainage improvements. Officials are expected to submit detailed project reports to expedite implementation under relevant state and central schemes.
Despite the assurances, residents of Raima Valley and Kalajhari expressed cautious optimism. Many said similar promises had been made in the past without visible outcomes. Community leaders stressed that timely execution would be key to restoring trust among tribal populations who feel neglected.
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The developments come amid growing scrutiny over infrastructure gaps in remote tribal areas of Tripura. With renewed political attention on grassroots governance and inclusive growth, the coming weeks will determine whether the minister’s commitments translate into tangible improvements for families who have struggled for decades without reliable basic services.
