Agartala, Nov 13 — BJP state secretary Devid Debbarma on Thursday strongly criticised journalist-turned-politician and TTAADC Executive Member Kamal Kalai for allegedly spreading misinformation regarding the royalty revenue earned by the Tripura government from the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).
Kalai, while addressing a party meeting in his constituency, claimed that the state government earns around ₹5,000 crore in revenue from ONGC operations in the TTAADC areas but allocates only ₹500 crore for the autonomous council’s administration. He further alleged that residents of the TTAADC region are being denied their rights and land ownership powers. “All other ADCs in the North East, except TTAADC, have been empowered to make land allotments. The Tiprasa accord is a fight for land rights and empowerment through education, services, and modern amenities,” Kalai said. His remarks, delivered in Kokborok, were aired on Kok Tripura TV.
Terming Kalai’s statements “false and misleading,” BJP leader Devid Debbarma said, “The claim that the state received ₹5,000 crore from ONGC as royalty is completely baseless. Natural gas discovered in India belongs to the Government of India, and Tripura only receives a share of royalty and tax revenue.”
Citing official data, Debbarma stated that Tripura earned ₹349.56 crore from ONGC over the last three financial years — ₹85.41 crore in 2020–21, ₹93.98 crore in 2021–22, and ₹169.75 crore in 2022–23 — including royalty and license fees. “A fair share of this amount is allocated to the TTAADC as per norms,” he added.
Debbarma cautioned political leaders to speak responsibly, asserting that “truth and transparency are the real pillars of development.”
