MizoramJanuary–December

CurrentAffairs2017part1

Dr Gaurav Garg

TIRELESSSOUL

GauravGarg888

• MizoramisoneofthestatesofNortheastIndia,withAizawlasitscapitalcity.The

nameisderivedfromMi (people),Zo(loftyplace,suchasahill)andRam(land),andthusMizoramimplies "Landofthehill

people".

• Withinthenortheastregion,itisthesouthernmostlandlockedstate,sharingborderswiththreeofthe SevenSister

States,namely Tripura, Assam and Manipur.Thestatealsosharesa722kilometreborder

withtheneighbouringcountriesof Bangladesh and Myanmar

Likeseveralothernortheastern statesof India,Mizoramwaspreviouslypartof Assam until1972,whenitwascarvedoutasa UnionTerritory.Itbecamethe23rdstateofIndia,astepaboveUnionTerritory,on20February1987,withFifty-ThirdAmendmentofIndianConstitution,

1986

Mizoram'spopulationwas1,091,014,accordingtoa2011census.

Itisthe 2ndleastpopulousstate inthecountry.Mizoramcoversanareaofapproximately21,087squarekilometres.

About91%ofthestateisforested.

• About95%ofthecurrentpopulationisofdiversetribalorigins, ThisisthehighestconcentrationoftribalpeopleamongallstatesofIndia,andtheyarecurrentlyprotectedunderIndianconstitutionasa ScheduledTribe.

• MizoramisoneofthreestatesofIndiawithaChristianmajority(87%).•(Nagaland,mizoram,meghalaya)

Swacch Sarveskshan 2017

Gujarat has maximum of 12 cities among the top 50 cleanest, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 11 and Andhra Pradesh with

eight.

Swacch Sarveskshan 2017

Aizawl-105

Swacch Sarveskshan 2017

LalThanhawlaINC

Nirbhay Sharma

EntrepreneurshipDevelopmentSchemeinauguratedinMizoram

Mizoram ChiefSecretaryLalmalsawma inauguratedtheEntrepreneurshipDevelopmentScheme(EDS) undertheNewEconomicDevelopmentPolicy

(NEDP).

TheEDScouldbeinstrumentalinimplementationof17SustainableDevelopmentGoalsoftheUnitedNationswithminimumharmtothe

environment

TheStategovernmenthasallocatedRs.2CroreforNewEconomicDevelopmentPolicy(NEDP)

AIRAizawl honoredwithprestigiousLelte Award

TheAllIndiaRadio(AIR)Aizawl hasbeenhonouredwiththeprestigiousLelteAwardatanimpressive26thAwardCeremonyheldatChanmari YMAHallin

Aizawl.

TheawardisgiveninrecognitionoftheroleplayedbyAIRAizawl fortheoverallprogress&developmentofMizoramandforpromotionofMizo language&literatureandforitscontributioninthefieldofhealthcare&educationandin

promotionofbrotherhood.

Lelte isapopularWeeklyMagazine inMizoramwhichhitthestandsince1983.

Mizorambecomes27thStatetojoinUDAY

TheGovernmentofIndiaandtheStateofMizoramsignedaMemorandumofUnderstanding(MOU)undertheschemeUjwalDISCOMAssuranceYojana(UDAY)

foroperationalimprovementoftheState’sPowerDistributionDepartment.

Mizoramwouldderive anoverallnetbenefitofapproximatelyRs.198crores byoptingtoparticipateinUDAY,bywayofcheaperfunds,reductioninAT&Candtransmissionlosses,interventionsinenergyefficiency,etc.duringtheperiodof

turnaround.

ThereductioninAT&Clossesandtransmissionlossesto15%and2.50%respectivelyislikelytobringadditionalrevenueofaroundRs.166croresduring

theperiodofturnaround.

MizoramlaunchesschemeforbettertreatmentofHIV-hitpeople

TheMizoramHealthMinisterLal Thanzara launchedtheTestandTreatStrategyoftheMizoramstateAIDSControlSociety(MSACS) toimprovetreatmentfor

HIVaffectedpeopleinthestate.

UndertheTestandTreatStrategy,theHIVaffectedpeoplewouldbegivenfreeAntiRetrovira Therapy(ART) irrespectiveoftheCD4count.

ARThasbeenfoundtobeabletoresistTBandotherbacterialdiseases.Themajorityofthefull-blownAIDSaffectedpatientsdiedinthestateduetoTB

infection.

TheTestandTreatStrategyisanewinitiativeoftheCentretocombattheHIV/AIDSdisease

Mizoramcelebrates31stanniversaryofMizo peaceaccord

TheMizo AccordwassignedonJune30,1986usheringinaneraofpeaceafter20yearsofviolenceanddisturbanceinthestate.

ItwassignedbytheMizoNationalFront(MNF)leader Laldenga,MizoramChiefSecretary Lalkhama,andthenUnionHome

SecretaryRDPradhan.

Now– RajivGAUBA

Theofficialdocumententitled MizoramAccord,1986,MemorandumofSettlementwasthelandmarkthatrestored

peaceandharmonyinthestate.

Aseriesofdiscussionswereheld:

Handingoverofallarms,ammunition,andequipmentstotheCentralGovernment.

Preparationforsettlementandrehabilitationofundergroundpersonnel.

ConfermentofStatehoodontheUnionTerritoryofMizoram.TheStatewillbeatlibertytoadoptanyoneormorelanguageforofficialpurposes

Establishmentofaseparateuniversityforthestate.

TheStatetohaveaHighCourtofitsown.

UnlikeotheraccordssignedbytheCentrewithmanyinsurgentoutfitsearlier,theMizoAccordbecamesuccessfulmakingMizoramupgradeintoafull-fledgedstatefromunion

territorystatusonFebruary20,1987.

WomanelectedtoMizoramcouncilofministersforfirsttimein30years

Lalawmpuii Chawngthu becamethesecondwomaninMizoramtobeinductedinthestate’scouncilofministersafteragapof30years.

GovernorLtGen(Retd)Nirbhay SharmaadministeredtheoathofofficetoChawngthu atafunctionatRajBhavan.

Chawngkunga,presidentoftheMizoramPradeshYouthCongressCommittee,waselectedfromHrangturzo seatincentralSerchhip districtinabye-election.

Lalhlimpui Hmarwasthefirstwoman Ministerof State inMizoramin1987.

Ngangom Sarat SinghappointedasmemberoftheJointElectricityRegulatoryCommission(JERC)forManipurandMizoram

UnionMinisterofState(IC)forPowerandNew&RenewableEnergy,ShriR.K.SinghadministeredoathofofficeandsecrecytoShri Ngangom SaratSingh, onhisappointmentasmemberoftheJointElectricityRegulatory

Commission(JERC) forManipurandMizoram.

TheJERCisatwo-memberCommission,eachmemberrepresentingtherespectiveparticipatingState.

HehasbeenappointedasthememberfromtheManipursideforaperiodof5years,witheffectfromthedateofhistakingchargeofthepostortillhe

attainstheageof65years.

IndiaandBangladeshhavedecidedtoconstructbridgealongMizoramBorder

India and Bangladesh havedecidedtoconstructabridgeoverMizoram'sKhawthlangtuipui river(alsoknownasKarnaphuli river) tofacilitatetrade

andimprovecommunicationbetweenthetwoneighbours.

Thedecisionwastakenafterofficialsfromboththe sidemetat Tlabung town in Mamit district ofMizoram.

The Mamit districtissituated adjacentto Khagrachari districtof Southeast Bangladesh.

Mizoramhas a 318km unfencedborderwithBangladesh. InMarch2017,theUnionGovernmenthadannouncedthathalfofthe4,096-

kmlongborderIndiashareswithBangladeshhasbeenfenced.

Theremaininghalfwillbefencedby2019deadline. IndiaandBangladeshsharea 4,096km landboundary,largestamongtheinternationalboundariesthatIndiashareswithits neighbours.

Theborderrunsalongfivestates,WestBengal(2,216.7km),Assam(263km),Meghalaya(443km),Tripura(856km)andMizoram(318

km)

GovernmentawardsContractsforcompletionofKaladanprojectinMyanmar.

Governmenthasawarded aRs1,600-crorecontractforconstructing109-kmroadconnecting Paletwa riverterminaltoZorinpui in

Mizoramborder asapartofthe $484-millionKaladan multi-modaltransport(KMTT) projectsinMyanmarwhichwill offerconnectivity

toMizoram.

Kaladan multi-modaltransportprojects wasthefirstmajorprojectundertakenbytheIndiangovernment inMyanmar.

IndiahasfinishedconstructingSittwe portinthe trouble-proneRakhine stateofMyanmar.

Also,theextensionof theAizawl-Saiha NationalHighwayby90kmtotheinternationalborderatZorinpui attheIndiansideisnearingcompletion.

Inaddition,four-laning of the300kmAizawl-Tuipang highwaytoensurefastermovementofgoodsbetweenSittwe andAizawl isalsonearingcompletion.

Kaladan multi-modaltransport(KMTT)

Itisamulti-modaltransportprojecthavingthreedifferentstretchesinvolvingshipping,InlandWaterandroadtransportstretches.

BeingadministeredbyMinistryofExternalAffairs

GoI isfundingtheproject.

Willconnect Mizoram toBayofBengal

ProjectseekstofacilitateconnectivitybetweenthemainlandIndiaandthelandlockedNorthEasternStatesthroughmaritimeshipping,

inlandwaterwaysandroadsofMyanmar

ThelinkbetweenlandlockednortheasternstatesandMyanmarwillleadto:

Enhancedtradeandcommerceacrosstheborder

Enableculturalandsocialintegrationattheregionallevel

Background:

Agreementwassignedin2008

Constructionbeganin2010

ButinadequatefundsandpoorplanningledtodelaysIn2015,thepresentgovernment revisedthebudgetestimatesbynearlysixtimesandhasinvolvedthe State-ownedIrcon InfrastructureandServicesLtd

asconsultantwithanobjectiveto completetheprojectin2019.

Asperthetermsofthe frameworkagreement,Indiashouldalsosetupan SEZatSittwe.

ThesettingupofSEZatSittwe isimportanttopromoteIndianinvestmentintheregionwhichhasoverwhelming Chineseinfluence.

ThecompletionofKMTTprojectwillplayamajorroleineconomicdevelopmentoftheNorth-EastIndiaanditwillimprovethebilateral

relationsbetweenIndiaandMyanmar.

Whencompleted,theKMTTwillshortenthecurrenttimetakentotransportgoodsfrom KolkatatoMizorambythree-fourdays,andthe

distancebyaround950km.

KMMTishailedas“FuturegatewaytoSouthEastAsia”

Banonbird,pigimportintoMizoram

Deputycommissioners ofallthedistrictsinMizoram,bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh,haveissuedorder banningimportof

bird,chicken,pigandpiglet fromthe neighbouringcountries.

DeputycommissionersofChamphai,Aizawl,Lunglei,Lawngtlai,Siaha andMamit issuedordersafterreceivingawarningfromtheCentresayingthat

bird'sfluhasbeenprevalentinChina.

Veterinarianssaidtheimportofpigsandpigletswasalsobannedaspigsarecarrieroftheavianinfluenzavirus.

CCEAapprovesNorthEastRoadNetworkConnectivityProjectPhaseI

TheCabinetCommitteeonEconomicAffairs(CCEA)hasapprovedNorthEastRoadNetworkConnectivityProject(NERNCP) PhaseIfordevelopmentof403

kms ofNationalHighwaysinMeghalayaandMizoram.

Outoftotal403km,approximately351kmwillbeindevelopedinMizoramand52kminMeghalaya.TheprojectwillbeexecutedinEPC(Engineering,

ProcurementandConstruction)Mode.

Theimplementationofprojectswillstartfromthefinancialyear2017-18.Thecivilworksareexpectedtobecompletedby2021andmaintenanceworksby

2025.

Theprojectswillencouragesub-regionalsocio-economicdevelopmentbyimprovinginfrastructureinMizoramand

Meghalaya.Itwillalsoenhanceconnectivitywithinter-stateroadsandInternationalBorders.

TheworkfordevelopmentoftwolanestandardsundertheschemeNERNCPPhaseIwillbefinanciallysupportedbyloanassistancefromJapanInternationalCooperationAgency(JICA).

12thIndo-MongolianJointMilitaryExerciseNomadicElephantheldinVairengte .

ThetwelftheditionIndo-MongolianJointMilitaryExerciseNomadicElephant2017hasbegunatVairengte inMizoram.

Vairengte housesIndianArmy’seliteCounter-InsurgencyandJungleWarfareSchool.

ThefirstjointNomadicElephantwasheldin2004andsincethenitisannuallyheld.ItseekstopromotemilitaryassociationsbetweenIndiaandMongolia.

Thetwoweekexercise(from5to18April2017),isaimedattrainingthetroopsinCounterInsurgency&CounterTerrorismOperations(CICTOps)under

Nationsmandate.

FreeMovementRulesAlongMizoram-MyanmarBorderToBeTightened

TheHomeMinistryisplanningtoregulate'freemovement'ofpeoplealongtheborderwithMyanmarinMizoraminthenorth-east.

The'freemovementregime',whichallowsMizo peoplelivinginMyanmartoenterMizoramupto16km,hasbeenmisusedbyterroristsand

smugglers.

Indiasharesa404-km-longborderwithMyanmarinMizoram.

MizoramhashighestnumberofcloudedleopardsinSoutheastAsia

Mizoram'sDampa TigerReservenowholdsthedistinctionofhousingthehighestnumberofcloudedleopardsinSoutheastAsia.

Thedensityofpopulationofcloudedleopards,locallyknowsas'Kelral',is5.14per100sqkminthereserve,situatedalongtheMizoram-Bangladesh-Tripura.

Theareaofthereserveisaround80sqkm,the densityofpopulationofmarbledcats,alsoknownas'Sanghar',is5.03per100sqkm.

Thestate'sEnvironment,ForestsandClimateChangeDepartmentplacedseveralcameratrapsatdifferentplacesacrosstheDampa TigerReserve,whichcapturedthe

cloudedleopards84timesandthemarbledcats36times.

Centreapproves464projectscostingofRs14,124crorefor8smartcitiesinNE

AfterreviewingtheprogressofurbanmissionsintheeightnortheasternstatesinGuwahati ,Unionministerofstateforhousingandurbanaffairs,Hardeep SinghPurisaidthat,theCentrehasselectedeightsmartcitiesintheregionand464projectshavebeen

approvedforthesecitiessofar.

TheselectedsmartcitiesoftheNEregionare– Guwahati (Assam),Imphal (Manipur),Agartala (Tripura),Namchi (Sikkim),Kohima (Nagaland),

Passighat (ArunachalPradesh),Aizawl (Mizoram)andGangtok (Sikkim).

42townsinNEstateshavebecomeOpenDefectionFree(ODF) undertheSwach BharatMission.

12townsoftheregionhavebeenincludedintheAtal MissionforRejuvenationforUrbanTransformation(AMRUT) forprovidingwatertapstoallhouseholdsbesidesimprovingwatersupplytothenormativelevelof135litres percapita

perday.

12NEtownsincludedinAmrut are – Itanagar (ArunachalPradesh),Guwahati,Dibrugarh,Nagaon andSilchar (Assam),Imphal (Manipur),Shillong (Meghalaya),Aizawl (Mizoram),Dimapur andKohima (Nagaland),Gangtok (Sikkim)and

Agartala (Tripura).

KSThanga SworninasNewMizoramMinister

SeniorCongressleaderKSThanga wassworninasanewministerintheLal Thanhawla government.

MizoramGovernorLtGenNirbhay Sharma(Retd)administeredtheoathofofficeandsecrecytoThanga intheswearing-inceremonyheldatthe

RajBhavan.

WithThanga,Lal Thanhawla governmenthasnow11minister.Mizoramcanhavemaximumof12ministers.

Thanga hasbeengiventherankofaministerofstate.

India:StateofMizorampledgestoinstall80MWofsolarin2017

Inordertomeetits10.5%renewablepurchaseobligationbyFY2021-22,thegovernmentoftheIndianstateofMizoramhasadoptedasolarpowerpolicythat

envisagesdeploymentof80MWofsolarprojectsin2017.

Mizoramtosetup20MWsolarpark

Mizoram'sSolarPowerProjectApprovalCommittee(SPPAC)hasapprovedtheproposalforsettingupofa20MWsolarpark

TheprojectwillbeimplementedbythestatepowerandelectricitydepartmentandZoram EnergyDevelopmentAgency(ZEDA).

TheSolarPowerPolicyofMizoram,2017envisagedallgovernmentofficebuildingsshouldharnesssolarenergyintheirbuildingpremises

About ZEDA

Zoram EnergyDevelopmentAgency(ZEDA)isanautonomousbodyestablishedbytheGovernmentofMizoramwithitsHeadquarteratAizawl,Mizoram.

TheAgencybecameoperationalin1999,exclusivelytoundertakeallprogrammesinthefieldofNon- Conventional&RenewableEnergySources.

Apartfromthis,ZEDAisalsotheNodalAgency,whichinteractswiththeMinistryofNew&RenewableEnergy(MNRE),GovernmentofIndia,NewDelhi,to

implementthecentrallyfundedandsponsoredscheme,intherelevantfield.

27thDeathAnniversaryofLaldenga ObservedinMizoram

The27thdeathanniversaryofthelegendaryMizo leaderLaldenga wasobservedinAizawl .

HewasBornonJuly11,1927atsouthMizoram’sPukpui villageinLunglei district.

HeconvertedtheMNFFintoapoliticalparty– theMizo NationalFront(MNF)onOctober22,1961withitsmainobjecttostruggleforindependencefromthe

IndianUnion.

HesignedMizo PeaceAccordonJune30,1986usheringinpeacetothestateandbecameitsfirstchiefministerafterMizoramwaselevatedtoastatein1987.

TreatedforterminalcancerinNewYork,hediedinLondonin1990whilereturningtoMizoram.

HewasaccordedastatefuneralinAizawl andistheonlypersontilldatetobeaccordedstatefuneralin

Mizoram.