Tripura intellectuals demand white paper on Neermahal

Agartala, June 1: 'Mukta Mancha' an association of intellectuals in Tripura today expressed concern over rapid ecological deterioration of the historical water palace Neermahal and demanded constitution of a high level committee headed by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar.
Addressing the media here, chief of the Mancha, veteran journalist and freedom fighter Jiten Paul said besides, encroachment in surrounding areas of the palace, the entire ecosystem of the lake had already received a serious threat from the dwellers.

''Neermahal is gradually losing it's glory due to heavy siltation and establishment of brick fields in surrounding areas as well as rough uses of the palace water,'' Mr Paul said adding there were only two water palaces in India--the other one being in Rajasthan.

But Neermahal is now almost uncared for due to human interference.

Mr Paul and other associates of Mancha urged the state government to release a white paper on the issue while taking immediate step to save the historical monument.

He said that Maharaja Birbikram Kishore Manikya had established Neermahal in 1931 acquiring about 80 hectares of land, including a lake spread over 5.03 sqkm areas, as the summer palace and according to records the water level was about 42 ft.

''It was an isolated palace even after India's Independence and recognised as an important historical monument in the country. But since 1951 with the emergence of Rudrasagar fishermen Co-operative with 600 families, human activities have been increasing. Now about 2000 families are living, surrounding the palace,'' Mr Paul said.

Mukta Mancha has conducted an extensive study on present status and persisting threats to Neermahal. The report will be released in two weeks, he added.

UNI