Critical documents missing in MBB College lake project case trigger strong action by Tripura Human Rights Commission, which orders Agartala Smart City Limited to report to police amid allegations of negligence, environmental damage, and legal irregularities.
The Tripura Human Rights Commission (THRC) on Monday pulled up Agartala Smart City Limited over missing case-related documents in proceedings concerning the MBB College lake project and asked its present chief executive officer to report the matter to West Agartala police station.
Hearing a complaint related to alleged environmental impact and legal irregularities in the MBB College lake redevelopment project, the commission observed that the case had been pending since July 2025 and noted that documents earlier supplied to Agartala Smart City Limited could not be traced.
The commission headed by Justice Arindam Lodh said the agency’s plea seeking copies of documents again lacked merit as the papers had already been furnished earlier and comments were sought from it on those submissions.
According to the order, counsel appearing for Agartala Smart City Limited sought adjournment stating some documents were missing from its custody and an application had been made under the Right to Information Act for certified copies.
The commission said this indicated negligence and a delaying approach in conducting the litigation.
During the hearing, Executive Engineer Subodh Debbarma submitted that former CEO Sailesh Kumar Yadav, IAS, had been handling the case and after his transfer the documents could not be traced, the order said.
The commission directed the present CEO of Agartala Smart City Limited to inform the officer-in-charge of West Agartala police station regarding the missing records.
Counsel for the Forest Department informed the commission that Rudrasagar Lake in Sepahijala district was the only notified wetland in Tripura and submitted the relevant notification, the order noted.
The department also placed before the commission a report prepared under the chairmanship of the Member Secretary of the Wetland Authority of Tripura after inspection of MBB College lake on August 29, 2025, to assess the impact of the Smart City project on biodiversity.
The report noted certain minor irregularities during construction and lake revitalisation works, the commission recorded.
Counsel for the complainant argued that MBB College lake earlier figured in the Forest Department portal among wetlands and was later removed without notification. It was further contended that transfer of rights, title and possession of the project land to Agartala Municipal Corporation through a government communication was not in accordance with legal procedure.
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The complainant’s side also alleged that construction activity had damaged the lake ecosystem and affected aquatic life.
After hearing both sides, the commission granted a short adjournment to Agartala Smart City Limited to place further arguments on Tuesday.
