Privatization controversy shrouded Dumboor lake

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, February 24, 2024

The Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), led by the principal opposition party TIPRA Motha, finds itself mired in controversy as allegations of selling off the state's largest water body, Dumboor Lake, surface.The CPIM party launched a scathing attack, accusing the ADC authorities of handing over the sprawling water reservoir to a private agency, thus jeopardizing the livelihoods of the local fishermen community.Dumboor Lake, sprawling over 4,500 hectares in the Dhalai district, has long been a vital resource for both commercial pisciculture and tourism.

However, recent developments have prompted CPIM's SC and Tribal wing staging protests in Agartala city,demanding answers from the ADC authorities regarding the decision to privatize the lake.Former MLA and senior CPIM SC leader Sudhan Das criticized the TTAADC, alleging that it is mirroring the policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party by leasing out the lake to private entities. Das highlighted the plight of the approximately 7,000 to 8,000 fishermen whose livelihoods are at stake due to this decision.Das said Dumboor Lake was created when Tripura's first hydel power project was commissioned in 1971. He credited the Left Front government for revitalizing the lake, which subsequently became a source of sustenance for thousands through fishing.

In response, the fishery department of Tripura presented a contrasting narrative, asserting that the project involves multiple stakeholders, including the TTAADC, Tripura government, and local residents. According to a senior official, the project aims to boost revenue through a public-private partnership while ensuring the welfare of fishermen and utilizing local manpower.

Executive Member Fishery Rajesh Tripura dismissed CPIM's allegations, emphasizing that stringent conditions were imposed on the investor agency, including the employment of local fishermen, insurance coverage, and the use of local manpower for administrative tasks. He outlined plans for enhancing fish production over the next two years and providing financial assistance to registered beneficiaries.