Centre okays Rs 435 crore for Mizoram flagship project

The Planning Commission has given its nod to allocate Rs 435 crore for the Mizoram's ambitious project New Land Use Policy, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla said here today. Briefing the press after he arrived from New Delhi where he had the state plan size pegged at Rs 2300 crore, a record-breaking 36.29 per cent increase, Mr Thanhawla was happy to announce that "the Planning Commission has not only allowed us to double the allocation for NLUP, it has also given us a green signal to use additional fund as per our requirement." Of the Rs 1700 plan fund last year, the Congress government allocated Rs 234.82 crore for it flagship project that aims to gradually shift the farmers for the primitive shifting cultivation by providing them permanent land-based occupation.

The 2526.98 crore project aims to cover 1,20,000 families in five years. Expressing regrets over FMD infection on some of the imported dairy cows for the NLUP beneficiaries who opted for dairy farming, the Chief Minister assured that all the dead cows would be replaced with healthy ones.

But those who "acted in a way to defame the government" would not be compensated.

Besides the normal road maintenance fund, the Plannning Commission has also allowed Rs 200 crore for 'special road development project.' "This is to be submitted by the state government subject to the availability of additional resources from the ministry of finance," Mr Thanhawla said. "We will hopefully get additional fund for the under construction Rajiv Gandhi sports stadium and the 210 MW Tuivai hydel project," Mr Thanhawla said.