Agartala, June 29, 2025: For over a month, the residents of the 35-Mile area under the Atharamura Hills in Mundiyakamai R.D. Block have been enduring a severe drinking water crisis. On Saturday, the frustrated villagers blocked the Assam-Agartala National Highway yesterday, demanding a permanent solution to the problem.
According to locals, a drinking water pipeline running along the highway was damaged nearly one and a half months ago after rocks from the hill rolled down and cracked it. Despite repeated appeals to the concerned department for repairs, no action was taken by the authorities, leaving the villagers without access to clean water. Many families have been forced to rely on distant streams or jungle water sources for their daily needs.
Having received no response despite several complaints, the villagers resorted to road blockade as a last resort to draw attention to their plight. A police team from Mundiyakamai Police Station soon reached the spot. The blockade was lifted only after the administration assured swift repair of the damaged pipeline.
However, the residents made it clear that they no longer have faith in verbal assurances. “This is not just a broken pipeline—it’s about our right to survive,” said one of the protestors. They warned that if concrete action is not taken soon, they will be compelled to launch even larger protests in the future.
