Aizawl: Mizoram, which falls under earthquake prone zone, has sought the help of Australian government to set up a state-of-the-art earthquake institution in the state.
Mizoram chief secretary Vanhela Pachuau said this to the second secretary to the Kolkata-based Australian High Commission Brendan Hodgson Aizawl on Wednesday.
Hodgson, along with third secretary Chiria Perro, is on a short visit to Mizoram, looking for prospects and possibilities of economic relations with Mizoram.
The chief secretary informed the Australian officials that the Kaladan multi-modal project, that would link Myanmar sea port with Mizoram, would make the state a trade corridor for India and South East Asia.
Mizoram officials also highlighted the huge potential for hydro electric power in Mizoram but financial constraints are a problem to tap the potential.
With foreign investment, Mizoram could witness a boom in hydro power, they told the Aussies.
They also pointed out the prospects of socio-economic development through bamboo industries, food processing industries and handloom and handicrafts.
The possibility of working together in skill development and nursing was also discussed.
The Mizoram chief secretary also brought up the issue of visa and sought the help of the Australian high commission to simplify visa process for students and tourists from Mizoram.
The Australian officials assured all possible steps to have economic ties with Mizoram, an official source said.
The North-eastern region of India is an earthquake prone area. The region has experienced a large number of earthquakes of tectonic origin. The risk probabilities of earthquake are less over the entire Brahmaputra valley.
The Northeast India is seismically very active. Two major earthquakes of magnitude 8.7 occurred in 1897 and magnitude 8.6 in 1950 causing large scale damage of lives and properties in this region. Sir Edward Gait (1933) has mentioned about the occurrence of destructive earthquakes in this region in 1548, 1596, 1607, 1642, 1663, 1696-1714, 1869, 1882, and in 1897. In the present century, destructive earthquakes occurred in 1918, 1923, 1930, 1932, 1938, 1943, 1947, 1950 and in 1988. (Agencies)
