Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga has said that some of the infrastructure developments planned to be set up in the state capital Aizawl have to be delayed owing to the delay in the relocation of Assam Rifles base from the capital, an official statement said on Tuesday.
Zoramthanga, who is currently in the national capital, had called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday and put up several proposed projects and requirements of the state before the union minister, the statement said.
The two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including shifting of Assam Rifles battalion headquarters from the heart of Aizawl to Zokhawsang, about 15 km on the eastern outskirts of the state capital, it said.
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During his meeting with Shah, the Mizoram chief minister informed him that Assam Rifles could not shift its base to Zokhawsang within the time frame due to several reasons.
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“The delay in relocation has inconvenienced the state government and some of the proposed infrastructure developments have to be delayed in the state capital,” Zoramthanga was quoted as saying in the official statement.
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He had informed Shah that his government is undertaking bamboo development projects to uplift the state’s economy and sought the Centre’s help to construct link roads in order to successfully implement the bamboo projects.
Zoramthanga, who is also the president of Mizo National Front (MNF), had urged the home minister to provide housing assistance to former cadres of MNF, who came to overground after the signing of Mizo accord (1986).
Amit Shah on his part said that he would look into what Zoramthanga had informed him and promised that they will meet again at the earliest.
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On the same day, the Mizoram chief minister also met with Gautam S. Bhattacharyya, minister counsellor, deputy head of mission, embassy of Sweden.
The two discussed about issues related to Myanmar refugees and bamboo development-based industries in the state, the official statement said.
In February 2019 the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had directed the Assam Rifles to shift its battalion headquarters from Aizawl to Zokhawsang by May 31 that year.
Despite the Centre’s directive, the country’s oldest paramilitary force has not shifted its base to the designated place till date.
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The Assam Rifles headquarters has been located on a vast stretch of land in the heart of Aizawl since 1917.
Earlier, Assam Rifles had claimed that they did not receive a direction from the MHA to shift its base.