‘Culture of Broken Assurances’ Takes Root in Tripura, Says Jitendra Choudhury Over Amarpur Rubber Growers’ Compensation

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, September 24, 2026

The alleged failure of government officials and Forest Department authorities to honour repeated assurances has triggered a fresh controversy in Tripura, with affected rubber growers in Amarpur resorting to a road blockade demanding compensation for rubber trees reportedly felled during road construction and expansion works.

The agitation has brought into focus what former Forest Minister and Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Choudhury described as a growing culture of assurances by government officers and bureaucrats, where commitments made to affected citizens allegedly remain unfulfilled for months or even years.

The affected rubber growers, including tribal families, blocked the Amarpur–Gandachhara road at Santchandranai Para demanding payment of compensation for the rubber trees that were cut in connection with infrastructure-related works. The protesters alleged that Forest Department officials had assured them that compensation would be provided for their losses, but the promised payment has not yet reached them.

Following the road blockade, the issue was taken up with the administration. After discussions and assurances regarding necessary intervention, the protesters reportedly agreed to withdraw the blockade, restoring normal traffic movement along the road.

Jitendra Choudhury has demanded that the Forest Department honour the commitments made by its officers and ensure that the affected rubber growers receive the compensation promised to them. He has questioned the practice of asking aggrieved citizens to withdraw their protests on the basis of official assurances when those assurances are subsequently not implemented.

The former Forest Minister maintained that the affected families should not have to repeatedly approach the administration or resort to road blockades to secure compensation for losses arising from government-related development works. According to him, once the government or its officials make a commitment to compensate affected people, the assurance should be followed by a definite administrative process and timely payment.

The Amarpur incident has therefore raised a broader question about accountability within the administration: How long can citizens be expected to rely on official assurances if promised relief does not materialise?

For the affected rubber growers, the withdrawal of the road blockade is only a temporary step. Their principal demand remains the actual payment of compensation for the rubber trees they claim to have lost. They have indicated that failure to resolve the issue may lead to renewed agitation.

The episode has also placed the Forest Department under renewed scrutiny, with the affected growers and opposition representatives demanding that officials move beyond assurances and fulfil the commitments allegedly made to the victims.

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