Present regime failed to extend smart city projects, Manik Dey

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, May 22, 2022

Former Urban Development minister and veteran CPI (M) leader Manik Dey reacting over the recent statements made by Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC), slammed the functioning of the civic body and claimed that BJP did nothing in the past 50 months to improve the civic amenities.

Addressing a press conference here at CPI (M) headquarters on Saturday evening CPI (M) leader Manik Dey accompanied by former deputy mayor of AMC Samar Chakraborty alleged that all pending works initiated during Left Front regime has been stalled for upgradation of Agartala into a smart city and till date people of the state are not aware about progress of all pending projects related to improvement of civic amenities.

He said that as per detailed plan for ‘smart city’ projects, all the existing drainage system would have to improved and all roads of the city have to convert into all weather roads, but the new corporation of AMC, captured by rigging votes, is uttering only falsehood to divert the attention of common people.

Recalling the recent flood in the city, Dey claimed that the basic cleaning programme including maintenance of the proper drainage system has been stalled and with only 13 pumps, the inundated water cannot be removed from the city.

As per the smart city plan, more pumps would have to be set up, but the present regime is busy with their photo session and not doing the real work for the people. He also said that the Mayor had uttered falsehoods as the river water from Howrah never entered into the city and it would not be geographically possible.

“If the Left Front government did nothing for the city people, I want to ask them how the present infrastructure of AMC developed when,”, said Dey and claimed that whatever development was made only in the LF regime and present BJP government in the past 50 months has only stalled all developmental projects in the city.

Giving details of all pending projects under ‘smart city mission’, Dey said that the present government did not take any step to improve the parking system inside the city and the ‘double-engine’ government even failed to bring the pending funds of the projects.

“The people of the city want real development not the photo session,”, said Dey and has also alleged that the present government has also reduced Tripura Urban Employment Programme (TUEP) funding, which has also stopped cleanliness drive in the city.