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Indian Express
17 hours ago
- Climate
- Indian Express
IMD forecasts heavy rain in parts of Tripura for 5 days from tomorrow
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday forecast heavy to very heavy rain in different parts of Tripura from August 21 to August 25. As per the IMD forecast, heavy to very heavy rain of 7-20 cm is expected in one or two places in South Tripura district, and heavy rain of 7-11 cm in one or two places in the rest of the districts from Thursday till Saturday. The IMD forecast heavy to very heavy rain of 7-20 cm in one or two places in the South, Sepahijala, and Gomati districts on August 24 and 25. Also, heavy rain of 7-11 cm is expected in one or two places in the other districts during the same period. Last month, heavy rain left at least 840 people from 250 families homeless in different areas, mostly from Santirbazar and Belonia of South Tripura district. Last year, devastating floods claimed 38 lives, affected over 17 lakh people, and caused damage worth Rs 15,000 crore in road connectivity, power transmission, flood management infrastructure, domestic households and public infrastructure, livestock, agriculture, etc. During the budget session in the Assembly this year, Chief Minister Manik Saha said the state government was planning to increase the navigability of the Haora river, which encircles large parts of Agartala city. The Government says deforestation, soil erosion from the river basin, deposits in the riverbed, and siltation contribute to the lower water retention capacity of the river, which causes flooding even with low rainfall. During his tenure as chief minister, Biplab Kumar Deb had undertaken ambitious plans to build dams after visiting the upper catchment area of Haora in the Baramura Hills.
India Gazette
05-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Tripura: Biplab Deb emphasises India's green heritage on World Environment Day
Agartala (Tripura) [India], June 5 (ANI): West Tripura Lok Sabha MP and former Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Wednesday joined World Environment Day celebrations at Vivek Nagar Ramakrishna Mission, Agartala. He highlighted India's age-old connection with nature and the environment. 'Today is World Environment Day. As a citizen of this country, I take pride in the fact that tree worship has been practised here for many generations. While foreigners are only now realising the importance of protecting greenery, for us, this is nothing new,' he told ANI. Deb asserted that India, guided by the principles of Sanatan Dharma, has always championed the protection of nature and all living beings. He noted that many countries now look to India for environmental inspiration. 'The world has entrusted us with the responsibility of planting trees. I have travelled across Europe and seen that there isn't as much greenery there. People from abroad come to our country to witness wildlife. To see lions, they have to travel all the way to Africa,' he added. Encouraging people to take personal responsibility, Deb proposed a unique suggestion: 'We celebrate our birthdays every year, but we should also plant at least one tree each time. If someone is 60 years old and has planted only seven trees in their lifetime, that should change.' The celebration at Ramakrishna Mission aimed to spread awareness among students and the public about the importance of environmental conservation, aligning with this year's global theme of restoring land and combating desertification. Earlier in the day, Tripura Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu urged people to plant trees in their homes and avoid the use of plastic on the occasion of World Environment Day. 'Today is World Environment Day. Tripura is a green land, a green state. We must always strive to maintain this greenery and take the state even further on the path of environmental progress. I would like to tell the people of the state to avoid the use of plastic. I urge everyone to plant trees in their own homes,' he said. Tripura joined the global movement with renewed commitment to environmental preservation. Known for its lush greenery and natural beauty, the state marked the day with an appeal to its citizens to protect and sustain its rich ecological heritage. In a message to the people, a call was made to maintain Tripura's identity as a 'green land' and to further advance its environmental goals. Emphasising the need to reduce pollution, residents were urged to stop using plastic and adopt eco-friendly habits. (aNI)
Indian Express
03-06-2025
- Climate
- Indian Express
CPM should shut down offices and go to China, says Tripura BJP MP Biplab Kumar Deb
Tripura BJP MP Biplab Kumar Deb said on Tuesday that the CPM should shut down its offices and go to China, responding to the Opposition party's condemnation of the encounter killing of 27 Maoists, including their general secretary Nambala Kesavarao, in Chhattisgarh. The party's Politburo had claimed that appeals for peace from Maoists had been ignored and that the central government as well as BJP-led the state government had chosen to ignore the possibility of dialogues with the rebels. 'The CPM is a banned organisation. Naxals are a banned organisation. Speaking of the banned organisation, the CPM has no place in democracy. If they have shame, they should close their party offices and go to China. They don't have a place in Tripura,' Deb told reporters on the sidelines of a visit to a flood relief camp at Durga Chowmuhani in Agartala. On May 23, Biplab Kumar Deb termed the CPM 'anti-national' for criticising the Centre over the killing of the Maoists. His comments came even though CPM Politburo member and state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury clarified that his party wasn't opposed to any form of military offensive against Maoists or any other radical elements. Rather, Chaudhury said, the party had said the central government had ignored offers of surrender the slain Maoists had allegedly made. 'The CPM or any other patriotic political party or organisation in the country is obviously not opposed to military offensives against terrorists. But while the government is holding peace talks in Nagaland, the central government's move to reject offers of surrender from Maoists and rejecting their plea to return to normal life is not the way things are done…..' Chaudhury said soon after the BJP criticised the Politburo statement. Chaudhury also claimed that while the BJP high command, central government or the Chhattisgarh government didn't criticise the CPM Politburo's statement, some leaders of the saffron party in Tripura were trying to confuse people. During his visit to flood relief camps at Agartala, Biplab Deb continued his tirade against the CPM while distributing food packets. 'Waterlogging in the houses of most people staying in the shelters has reduced. Now they will need to clean their houses in a few days and we have provided food packets to every family so that they have food after reaching home…,' the former chief minister said. Tripura is witnessing heavy rain and thunderstorms that have forced 10,813 people to abandon waterlogged houses and shelter in government camps. As many as 219 houses were damaged in Gomati, Khowai, Sepahijala, South Tripura, and North Tripura districts. However, the assessment of damage is ongoing.
Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Railway Ministry approves new train between Agartala and Guwahati
Tripura West MP Biplab Kumar Deb Saturday informed that the Ministry of Railways has approved a new train service between Agartala and Guwahati. The former Tripura chief minister said Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw wrote to him on May 19, stating, 'Kindly refer to our discussion regarding introduction of new train service between Agartala and Guwahati for public convenience. 'You would be pleased to know that the introduction of a new train service between Agartala and Guwahati (Narangi) has been approved.' Deb also took to social media to thank Vaishnaw and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the new service. In February, Tripura received its first electric locomotive as part of the process to introduce more electric trains in the Northeast. After Assam, Meghalaya became the first Northeastern state to have electric trains in early 2023, with the launch of an electric train service between Mendipathar and Dudhnoi. Tripura has several long-distance passenger trains connecting it to metropolitan cities like Kolkata, Delhi, and Mumbai. However, till now, those trains run on diesel-powered engines till Badarpur in Assam, where diesel locomotives are replaced by electric ones to cater to the rest of the journey.
Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
CPI(M) held rallies in Bengal in favour of Pakistan during Operation Sindoor: former Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb
Former Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb Friday termed the CPI(M) as 'anti-national' for criticising the Centre over the killing of 27 Maoists in Chhattisgarh. Deb's remarks came a day after the Politburo, the highest policy-making body of the CPI(M), issued a statement condemning the recent encounter of 27 Maoists, including general secretary Nambala Kesavarao, and claimed that appeals for peace from the Maoists were ignored by the Union government and the BJP-led Chhattisgarh government. In a video message, BJP MP Deb said, 'We have always been saying that the CPI(M)… is anti-national, anti-social. The CPI(M) conducted rallies in West Bengal in favour of Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. They have always spoken in support of Pakistan and China. Such an anti-national party… doesn't have the right to go to people to appeal as a political party.' The MP also urged the people to take note of the CPI(M)'s 'real face', and their support for Maoists who allegedly killed thousands of ordinary people, political leaders, security forces, and hindered the development of the nation. In its statement, the CPI(M) stated that many political parties and citizens concerned requested the government for a dialogue. But despite repeated appeals for holding talks, both the Centre and the BJP-led state government in Chhattisgarh didn't choose a solution through dialogue, it added. 'In spite of our opposition to Maoists' politics, we urge the government to immediately accept their request for talks and halt all paramilitary operations,' the CPI(M) statement stated.
