AIZAWL:As the removal of the Assam Rifles from its century-old headquarters in the heart of the city is nearing, Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla has given an assurance that not even an inch of the vast plot of land would be used for private purpose when it is vacated by the paramilitary force.
”If the contractors manage to make basic amenities ready, it is planned to move the first batch of the Assam Rifles to the new headquarters at Zokhawsang during next October-November. The entire exodus is expected to be completed by the end of 2012,” Lal Thanhawla said while speaking at a closing function of the two-week Bal Shree Selection Summer Camp at Vanapa Hall here Saturday.
The Chief Minister assured that the Congress Government would not let even an inch of the Assam Rifles’ land for private purpose.
”The government will protect the land for public purpose. We will arrange wide consultation with the public and NGOs on how to utilise the land,” he said.
Earlier on Friday afternoon, the chief minister, accompanied by officials from state PWD, power electricity and PHE and Brig S P Rawat, commander HQ 23 Sector Assam Rifles, visited Zokhawsang where infrastructure development works are in full swing.
Col Gaurav Chaturvedi, CO of 26 Assam Rifles gave technical presentation on the construction works before the CM entourage. Brig Rawat assured to consider the chief minister’s request to allocate public path for the adjacent villagers who have plantations beyond Zokhawsang.
Brig Rawat informed the chief minister that one company will be shifted to the new headquarters during next October and others will move out in phase manners as per completion of the works.
The Assam Rifles officials also informed the chief minister water and power supply and the approach road from the national highway were yet to be completed.
The chief engineers of the three concerned departments assured that these would be completed soon.
About the approach road from the national highway, the PWD officials stated that it had not been handed over by the Border Roads Organisation.
Water is to be pumped from TB Tlang in Zemabawk. A 160-metre long water pipe already laid has been damaged.
The PHE officials said a contractor who damaged the pipeline would mend it soon.
The PE department has installed one electric transformer and five others would be installed within a short while.
The infrastructure development works in the 1305 acres of land are divided into nine packages, which are tendered and supervised by the Engineering Projects India Limited (EPIL). UNI
