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Tripura
Area : 10,491.69 sq km
Population : 3,199,203
Capital : Agartala
Principal Languages : Bengali and Kokborak
History and Geography
Tripura has a long historic past, a unique tribal
culture and a fascinating folklore. The history of
Tripura can be understood from ‘Rajmala’ chronicles of
king Tripura and writings of other Mohammedan
historians. There are references of Tripura even in
Mahabharata and Puranas. According to ‘Rajmala’, the
rulers were known by the surname ‘Fa’ meaning ‘father’.
There is a reference to rulers of Bengal helping Tripura
kings in the 14th century. Kings of Tripura had to face
frequent Mughal invasions with varying successes. They
defeated the Mohammedan Sultans of Bengal in several
battles. Nineteenth century marked the beginning of the
modern era in Tripura, when king Maharaja Birchandra
Kishore Manikya Bahadur modelled his administrative
set-up on the British India pattern and brought in
various reforms. His successors ruled Tripura till 15
October, 1949, when it merged with the Indian Union.
Initially, a part 'C' state, it became a centrally
administered territory with the reorganisation of states
in 1956. In 1972, Tripura attained the status of a
full-fledged state. Tripura is strategically situated
between the river valleys of Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Encircled almost on three sides by Bangladesh, it is
linked with Assam and Mizoram in the North-East.
Irrigation and Power
Geographical area of Tripura is 10,49,169 hectare. It is
assessed that about 2,80,000 hectares of land is
cultivable. As on 31 March 2005 an area of 82,005
hectares of land has been brought under assured
irrigation by providing lift irrigation, deep tube well,
diversion, medium irrigation, shallow tube wells and
pump sets. This is about 29.29 per cent of the
cultivable land in the state. 1269 L.I. Schemes, 160
deep tube wells, 27 diversion schemes have been
completed and 3 medium irrigation schemes, namely, (i)
Gumti (ii) Khowai and (iii) Manu are providing
irrigation water to the part portion of the command
areas as canal system has not been completed.
The present highest peak demand of power in the State is
around 162 MW Power available now from own generating
stations is around 70 MW. About 50 MW power is being
imported from the State's allocated share from the
Central Sector power generating stations in the
NE-Region. Thus, the total available power is about 120
MW, leaving a short fall of about 42 MW during peak
hours. This deficit is currently being managed by
shedding lead in a sequential manner for about 1(one) to
1/1-2 (one and half) hour in the evening throughout the
State.
The peak demand of the State has been estimated to go up
to 253 MW by 2007 by CEA in 16th Power Survey Report. It
is estimated that the peak demand during 2012 will be
396 MW considering the demand arising out of Rajiv
Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) and
industrialisation in the State. 1x21 MW GT Project at
Baramura finding under NEC : Sanctioned by EFC &
recommended by DONER but yet to be approved by Ministry
of Finance, Govt. of India. Another 1x21 MW G.T. set at
Rokhia, West Tripura was installed on 31 March 2006.
ONGCL Power Project (110 MW): Tripura's share is 100 MW.
Likely to be commissioned in 2008-09.
Transport
Roads : The total length of roads in Tripura is
15,227 km, of which major district roads constitute 454
km and other district roads are 1,538 km.
Railways : The total length of railway lines
within the state extended up to Manu is 66 km. Manu-Agartala
Railway line (Length-88 km) has been declared as
National Project and target date has been fixed for
completion of the project by March 2007.
Preliminary survey for Agartala-Sabroom rail link was
done several years back. It is understood that
reconnaissance engineering-cum-traffic survey for a new
BG line between Agartala and Sabroom was sanctioned in
1998-99. The survey report for this new Railway line
(110 km) was finalised and sent to the Railway Board in
mid-2000 by NF railway authorities. Therefore, work for
updating of this survey report was taken up during
2004-05 and updated survey report with cast. Estimate of
Rs. 556.88 crore were sent to the Railway Board by NF
railway authorities in early 2005.
In order to increase trade and commerce with Bangladesh,
railway link between Agartala (a railway junction in
Bangladesh) needs to be established. The distance from
Agartala is roughly 13 km of which 5.40 km is within
India. This link will facilitate establishing a
much-needed direct railway link from Tripura to Kolkata
in West Bengal for easier movement of passenger and
freight.
A preliminary survey for construction of new railway
line connecting Agartala to Akhaura was sanctioned by
Railway Board in February 1999. Survey for Indian
portion was completed and Bangladesh Railway authorities
were requested by NF railway authorities to provide
details of their part. But as no information from
bangladesh was available, the Survey report for Indian
part of Agartala-Akhaura new railway line (5.4 km) at an
estimated cost of Rs. 27.27 crore was sent to the
Railway Board by NF railway authorities in mid- 2000.
There has been no progress thereafter in this regard.
Aviation : The main Airport is at Agartala. There
are airports at Kailashahar, Kamalpur and Khowai though
they are not functioning at present.
The Civil Aviation Ministry has been requested to
consider asking Indian Airlines and other private
airlines operating in this region to operate hopping
flights between Agartala and Silchar in Assam via
Kailashahar and Kamalpur airport. The Ministry has now
mooted the idea that the State government and NEC may
sign a MoU with NEC agreeing to share the expenditure on
development of development of these two airports. The
State Government has expressed its inability to agree to
this proposal.
Tourism
The important tourist centres are :
(a) West-south Tripura Tourism Circuit: (i) Agartala
(ii) Kamalsagar (iii) Sepahijala (iv) Neermahal (v)
Udaipur (vi) Pilak (vii) Mahamuni
(b) West-North Tripura Tourism Circuit: (i) Agartala
(ii) Unokuti (iii) Jampui Hill.
Festivals
Tourism Festival : (i) Orange and tourism
Festival-Vangmun (ii) Unokuti Tourism Festival (iii)
Neermahal Tourism Festival (iv) Pilak Tourism Festival.
Cultural Religious Festival : (i) Makar Sankranti
at Thirthamukh and Unokoti (ii) Holi (iii) Ashokashtami
at Unokoti, Brahmakunda (Mohanpur) (iv) Rash (v) Bengali
New Year (vi) Garia, Dhamail, Biju and Hojgiri Festival,
(vii) Boat Race and Manasa Mangal Festival (viii) Ker
and Khachi Festival (ix) Durgapuja (x) Diwali (xi)
Christmas at Jampuri Hills (xii) Budha Purnima (xiii)
Rabindra-Najrul-Sukanta Utsav (xiv) Street Drama
Festival (xv) Chongpreng Utsav (xvi) Khumpuli Festival
(xvii) Wah Festival (xviii) Folk Cultural Festival (Loko
Utsav) (xix) Murasing Festival (xx) Sanghati Festival
(xxi) Baishakhi Festival (Sabroom), etc are celebrated.
Tourism
West-south Tripura Tourism Circuit: (i) Agartala (ii)
Kamalsagar (iii) Sepahijala (iv) Neermahal (v) Udaipur
(vi) Pilak (vii) Mahamuni
West-North Tripura Tourism Circuit: (i) Agartala (ii)
Dumboor Lake (iii) Unokuti (iv) Jampuri Hill |
