As a part of the Howrah River Front Development Project, the Agartala Smart City Limited (ASCL) is providing rehabilitation to the people living in the slum on the bank of the river Howrah, bringing a smile to them.
The 1.7-km long project from Dashamighat (downstream) to Steel Bridge (upstream) stretch of the river mainly aims at protecting the river from pollution, saving the Agartala city from flood and preventing erosion of the river bank.
According to official sources, the slum dwellers living in the project site are being offered new dwelling units at Radhanagar housing complex. The place is much better. It is clean, hygienic and safe for them. Besides, they will have legal rights to the new place offered to them. The rehabilitation will ensure a better quality of life to the slum dwellers.
The process has already started and as of now, nine families have been rehabilitated, the source said.
Most importantly, the Agartala Smart City Limited has gone a step further in an attempt to help the people living in Haora Basti with a one-time assistance of Rs.86,000. This is for the first time ever in the state that such assistance is being given to the slum dwellers.
Meanwhile, the river Howrah is the only source of drinking water in the Agartala city. The water of Howrah is distributed through supply after treatment. According to official sources, discharge of garbage from Howrah basti, auto stand, shops and markets is polluting the water of the river.
In the project site there are five big drains which are discharging the garbage to the river Howrah. The five drains will now undergo phytoremediation process.
On the other hand, the Agartala Smart City Limited has come up with a noble initiative– replanting the mature trees in different locations with an aim of saving the trees while carrying out the developmental works.
Considering the ecological aspects, the ASCL took initiatives to save every tree during the planning and designing phase. Steps have been taken to move away the matured trees and re-plant elsewhere.
Apart from re-plantation, the ASCL in collaboration with the Forest department will also carry out compensatory afforestation.
