Floods lead to over Rs 600 Cr losses for Agri, Power: Ratan

The recent floods in the state have caused extensive damage with losses in the agriculture and power sectors surpassing Rs 600 Crores. Power and Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath addressed the situation, detailing the impact on these vital sectors.

The agriculture sector has been particularly hard-hit, with 68,826 hectares of land either fully or partially damaged. This has resulted in an estimated production loss of 2.43 lakh metric tons, translating to a preliminary damage estimate of Rs 532.25 Crores. The total damage figure is expected to increase. Affected farmers number around 1,41,406, with significant losses in various types of cultivation: 4,000 hectares of jhum cultivation land, 7,000 hectares of Ayush paddy and 1.5 lakh hectares of Aman paddy have all been impacted. Additionally, 5,614 hectares of horticultural land have been damaged, leading to a production loss of 30.497 lakh units and a monetary loss of Rs 167 Crores affecting 27,000 farmers. The state has requested the National Seed Corporation to provide necessary seeds to support recovery.

The power sector has also faced severe challenges. Out of 9,90,451 consumers in Tripura, 9,05,614 are active, with around 35% of these—3,19,773—being affected. Currently, 1,49,000 consumers are still experiencing power disruptions. The floods have caused significant infrastructure damage: 1,603 broken poles, 501 damaged transformers, 642 kilometers of wiring down, and submerged substations and power lines. The estimated loss in the power sector stands at around Rs 9.02 Crores, with potential for this amount to rise further.

Minister Nath reported that 111 teams, each consisting of 8 to 10 personnel, are deployed across the state to restore power. However, severe water logging in Gomati and South Districts has hampered their efforts.