AGARTALA, March 3 (TIWN): The Agartala Battala royal cremation ground has now turned to a pig ranch and a hub of garbage, with the locals criticizing the role of the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC). While talking to TIWN in this regard royal scion Pradyot Kishore Manikya avoiding the issue said “we have already asked the AMC to take care of it, and they promised to do so.” But with this it has been found that Pradyot has nothing to comment further in this regard, even though the royal cremation ground is getting worst along with the passage with the time.

An unhygienic situation comprising of the garbage of the Battala market and pig ranch hovers across the royal cremation ground.

The ground which was once used under the regime of the Maharajas of Tripura, where they were cremated has been found using by the local market to store all the garbage. And along with the ground has also become a pig ranch. The locals alleged that in spite of taking the matter to the AMC several time, no necessary steps has been taken yet today. A huge quantity of thermocoal made fish containers were found to be kept at the royal cremation ground at large, and has been spreading an unhygienic atmosphere at the area, leading the locals to suffer.

Later talking to TIWN in this regard AMC Mayor Prafullajit Sinha said that the AMC has already taken certain initiative to pull out the garbage from the nearby cremation ground through the AMC vehicle. “We have already ordered the Battala bazaar committee not to dump any garbage nearby the cremation ground or at the side of the road, and to protect the ground we have already built a boundary wall across it,” Sinha said.

Asked about the garbage inside the cremation ground, Sinha said that so far the department has not kept their eye on it, but it will be looked after soon.

The tomb of the Maharajas at the royal cremation ground situated at Battala has now turned to a ranch for cattle. However asked about the issue, the royal scion Pradyot Kishore Manikya said, “We have already taken the issue with the AMC and they promised to take up the maintenance work and keep the cremation ground hygienic.” But it is mentionable here that the worst condition of the cremation ground is nothing new for the locals of Battala, as this has become a daily suffering for them. Besides, at a time when the retrofitting work of the cremation ground is far behind on the other hand, concerned administration seems to have washed their hand from keeping the ground in hygienic atmosphere.