Tripura to raise issue of rebuilding embankment by Bangladesh on border 'zero line' at river panel meet

Tripura government to address Bangladesh's embankment construction on 'zero line' in Joint Rivers Commission meeting.

The Tripura government will take up the issue of rebuilding an embankment by the Bangladesh authorities, some portions of which are falling on the 'zero line' along the international border, in the upcoming meeting of the Joint Rivers Commission between the two countries, an official said.

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The neighbouring country has been rebuilding the embankment on a massive scale at Alinagar in Moulvibazar district, close to Tripura's Rangauti area, and some portions of the structure are on the 'zero line', triggering widespread resentment among the people in Kailashahar, a border subdivision in Unakoti district of the northeastern state, he said.

The Bangladesh government has also "not taken the consent of the Indian authorities to rebuild the portions of the embankment which are on the zero line", Water Resources Department Chief Engineer Sudhan Debbarma alleged.

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"The Bangladesh government has undertaken repair work of the embankment at Alinagar as the structure was badly damaged in the last monsoon. In the course of repairs, they have constructed approximately 200 metres of the 6 km embankment on the zero line as per inputs we have gathered so far. The Bangladesh government did not seek any permission from us which violates the spirit of Joint Rivers Commission guidelines," the chief engineer told PTI.

He said the repair work was stopped following objection from the Indian side and the BSF was asked not to allow any work along the 'zero line' until the matter is resolved amicably.