Aizawl: Tender floated for import of rice from neighbouring Myanmar to Mizoram has been extended till Tuesday, state food, civil supplies and consumer affairs Secretary R. Lalvena Saturday said.
Lalvena told PTI that the department received information that some firms have already responded to the tender floated on September eight by the Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation of India Limited for import of one lakh quintal of rice from Myanmar following the arrangements being made by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution to import rice from neighbouring Myanmar.
Mizoram was planning to import rice from Myanmar to ensure non-stop supply of foodstuff during the mega block beginning from October one due to widening of railroad between Lumding and Badarpur in Assam.
The rice, would be imported via Zokhawthar in Mizoram-Myanmar border Champhai district and would be distributed to Aizawl, Lunglei and Lawngtlai districts.
The godown of state Trade and Commerce department, having the capacity of 8,000 quintals at Zokhawthar border trade centre on the banks of the Mizoram-Myanmar border river Tiau was being prepared for stocking the rice.
Meanwhile, the ongoing bandh by the Meghalaya’s Movement for Indigenous People’s Rights and Livelihood (MIPRL) severely hit movement of trucks and other commercial vehicles on the National Highway No. 54, the only lifeline for Mizoram. Lalvena said that while Mizoram has sufficient stock of foodstuff, scarcity of cooking gas and oil might hit the state soon due to the blockade. (PTI)