Development / Mizoram

Silchar, June 24: The Mizoram government’s failure to rope in funding agencies has affected hydel power projects in the state. The hydel plant at Bairabi has received a setback because of lack of funds. Another project, a dam across the Tuivai river, continues to be mired in uncertainties though its implementing agency, the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd (Neepco), has already initiated techno-economic and environment clearances.

The hydel project at Tuirial in north Mizoram, capable of generating 60 MW of power, may not be commissioned before 2006. According to sources in the...

Silchar, June 10: True to its name, passion fruit has become a passion with horticulturists in Mizoram. Ever since the first seedling of the tree that bears the fruit was planted in the Northeast’s tiniest state, growers have been aware of its economic potential. Their investment — money, time and hard work — is about to bear fruit.

Mizoram Food and Allied Industries Corporation (MIFCO) managing director Lalzarliana Renthlei today said concentrated passion fruit juice from the state would hit the Indian and overseas markets by the end of the year.

The state’s first fruit juice concentrate...

Aizawl, May 11: Experts have expressed reservations about the Mizoram government’s announcement on using organic manure for all agricultural and horticultural produce in the state. They believe that the government, which made the announcement last week, has set itself an impossible task. Speaking about the government’s ambitious plan, a state agriculture officer said it was foolhardy to use only organic manure in the entire state as it had proved to be a failure in the past.

“Instead of announcing the use of organic manure statewide, the government should have started in a small way by...

BAIRABI (Mizoram), May 11 – Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Friday inaugurated the first-ever thermal power project, costing Rs 85.95 crore and having a capacity of 22.92 megawatt, in this Mizoram-Hailakandi district (Assam) border town. The power plant would run on heavy furnace oil, estimated to be relatively cheaper than other fuel like diesel and gas.

In his inaugural speech, Zoramthanga said that the resources for construction of the Bairabi Hydro Project would soon be arranged and the works started.

New Delhi, Feb. 15: Mizoram has approached the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to fund the Bairabi hydel project. The 80-MW project is expected to help the state become self-sufficient in power. The Bairabi project, likely to cost Rs 570 crore, was cleared by the Union ministries of power and environment last year.

Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga said the state had approached the bank, as it was the fastest and easiest way to get the money. The entire amount of power generated can be utilised by the state. Zoramthanga said the ADB?s response has been positive and the Union ministry of finance...

Aizawl, Feb. 9: The number of potential BSNL cellphone users declined drastically today, just two days after the mobile service provider opened its door to the public. When the BSNL started giving out application forms for mobile phone connections here on Saturday, the rush was so great that people were queuing up outside its office, even blocking traffic.

Today, however, was a completely different story, as the expected rush did not come when the doors were opened. A trickle of people coming in for the forms was the only sign that the BSNL was about to launch cellular services in the state.

A...

Silchar, Jan. 28: Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga will inaugurate the region?s second border trade centre at Zokhawthar on the state?s border with Myanmar on Friday. Official sources at Aizawl said the centre would facilitate extensive trade in goods produced in India and Myanmar.

Minimum tariff would be slapped on the indigenous industrial and agricultural products to boost trade and curb cross-border smuggling, a source said.

The first trade centre at Moreh on the Manipur-Myanmar border was commissioned in 1995 following the signing of a protocol by the two countries.

Zokhawthar, a...

Silchar, Dec. 24: The Greater Aizawl Water Supply Scheme Phase II project is likely to be abandoned midway because of the ?slow and unsatisfactory? progress of the project. The Rs 176.55 crore-project was undertaken to ensure a steady supply of potable water to Aizawl.

A recent survey conducted by the Centre for Northeast Studies and Policy Research under the department of the development of the northeastern region (Doner) concluded that the project ?was being implemented by the Mizoram government whimsically without any systematic approach?. ?Hence the scheme may have to be abandoned half...

IMPHAL, Dec 11?In a significant development, Manipur and Mizoram have set up a joint power commission to study the problems and grievances being faced by the consumers of the two neighbouring states in the north east region. Reports reaching here said that the joint power commission was set up after a meeting between representatives of the two state governments at the office of the Union Power Secretary R V Sahi at New Delhi on Tuesday.

The headquarter of the joint commission will be based at Mizoram, During the first five years the Union government will bear fifty per cent of the cost of...

Aizawl, June 9: The Mizoram government has appealed to the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (Neepco) not to discontinue power supply to the state.

The power company had issued a notification to the government stating that it would discontinue power supply from June 16, as the state?s debt has reached Rs 6,334.74 lakh in 15 years.

Sources said the state has to buy from outside 75 per cent of its power requirement with Neepco being the biggest supplier. While it purchases power at the rate of Rs 6.36 per unit, consumers pay Rs 2.10 for each unit consumed.

As a result, the government...