Sand carrier truck drivers launch sit-in front of Bishalgarh SDF office demanding early issuance of permit

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, February 19, 2026

A large number of drivers of trucks that carry sand from river beds today laid a siege around the Bshalgarh sub-divisional forest office demanding early and prompt issuance of formal permission for carrying sand on their vehicles. The drivers sat in front of the office of the Subdivisional Forest Officer (SDFO) Ishan Paul shouting slogans and demanding prompt and timely issuance of permission for carrying sand on their vehicles.

Sources said that the truck drivers alleged that despite having all official papers in order they were not being issued permission for carrying them . Such permission in forest department’s parlance is known as ‘Vital’, sources said. The drivers said that they had repeatedly approached the SDFO to expedite the issuance of permission but no positive action has been taken and they are in great trouble with their families due lack of earning . The forest department officials are reported to have informed the drivers that the delay in issuing permission is due to problems in papers in ‘river ghats’.

The drivers clamed that they had brought the matter to the notice of the BJP MLA of Bishalgarh , Sushanta Deb but no there has been no result . The drivers declared that unless their problems are solved quickly all the drivers and their related employees will launch a blockade a national highway on February 21, that is next Saturday. But high-ups in the administration including the forest department have not come forward to resolve the issue quickly.

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