Tripura is a tiny state with geographical area of 10,486 km 2 , situated in the North- Eastern Region of India and surrounded by Bangladesh on three sides. The Gumti basin is situated in the lower middle part of Tripura. Gumti is the major river of Tripura. The basin lies in the districts of South Tripura, West Tripura and some part of Dhalai Tripura spreading from eastern to western boundary of the state. It is located between latitudes 23�19' and 23�47' N and longitudes 91�14' E and 91�58' E. The Gumti basin is surrounded by Bangladesh on its east and west. Some of the most fertile agricultural lands in the state are part of the alluvial deposits laid down by the river. A dam has been constructed near Dumbur on the river that has formed a lake covering 40 square kilometres (15 sq mi). A hydroelectric power plant has been set up by harnessing the Gomati at Dumboor falls, which has the capacity to generate 15 MW electricity. Thousands of tribal people were displaced due to the project that also disturbed the fragile ecology of the region. Dumbur Dam in Tripura has alrea dy led to widespread dispossession, loss of land, extinction of flora and fauna, and demographic impacts on indigenous peoples in the region. The Gumti river and the reservoir created by the Dumboor dam covering an area of approximately 300 kms are surrounded by lush landscape. This huge water body attracts many residents and migratory birds from far places. Species such as Lesser Adjutant which is a vulnerable species and Darter, a nearly Threatened Species can be spotted in considerable numbers. The river is a rich reservoir of natural and culture fishes. The area is a hallmark of the natural heritage of the state and testifies the diverse wildlife. Owing to deforestation in the catchment, about half of the reservoir has silted up, creating shallow zones, which are very attractive for waders and ducks. The site has more than 51 avian species. This site qualifies for A1 and A4 criteria. Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus, a Vulnerable species, and Darter Anhinga melanogaster, a Near Threatened species (Bird Life International 2001), are likely to be present in good numbers. The forested part of the nearby areas including the Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary serves as the catchment area of the Reservoir and the Gumti River, is rich in non-human primates. The species are: Phayre�s Langur or Leaf Monkey Trachypithecus phayrei, Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus, Hoolock Gibbon Hylobates hoolock, Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca nemestrina, Rhesus Macaque Macaca mulatta, Slow Loris Nycticebus coucang . Leopard Panthera pardus is the argest predator. Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak is known to occur. The Asiatic Elephant Elephas maximus is an occasional visitor. The nearby villages which mostly constitute the tribal communities are mostly dependent on the forest of the sanctuary for their livelihood and daily basic needs. The tourism infrastructure of the area is very weak due to which the tourist attraction for the area is very meager. Thus, there is an urgent need of conservation of the forest while using its components sustainably. During and after the construction of the hydroelectric dam and creation of a large reservoir, largescale displacement of local people occurred when their agricultural fields and villages were submerged. The villagers were resettled on the nearby hills, leading to forest clearance and conflict with the local inhabitants. After the discovery of huge reserves of natural gas in Tripura, the importance of Gumti hydroelectric dam as a source of energy has decreased. Another issue is the silting of almost 2,000 ha, mainly due to deforestation in the catchment areas. Due to these various factors, there is a proposal by National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) and North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) to de-commission the power plant, dismantle the dam and revert the submerged areas to the villagers.