Silchar, April 1: The Centre and the Mizoram government have approved the resumption of the construction of the Tuirial hydel power plant at Bilkhawtlir village in north Mizoram, which was abandoned in 2003.
The project was delayed for six years after a group of landowners in Bilkhawtlir claimed high rates of compensation for the land that the state government wished to acquire for the power plant.
The North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (Neepco) and the Japanese Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund Bank, which was funding the project, objected to this.
The controversy over the payment of an "inflated amount of money" compelled Neepco to wind up the construction of the plant.
A senior Neepco official said his organisation had agreed to resume the project after the Congress-led government in the state assured them of hassle-free and transparent payment of compensation.
However, the delay in the construction has inflated the total cost of this project from Rs 359.66 crore to Rs 880 crore.
The Centre assured the Mizoram government and Neepco that the additional funds would be acquired from different agencies in the country and from overseas.
The chairman and managing director of Neepco, I.P. Barooah, who was in Aizawl last week, told senior officials of the state power department that the construction of the plant would resume in three months.
Neepco is now awaiting the fresh clearance for this project from the Union cabinet committee of economic affairs in New Delhi.
The Tuirial hydro project comprises the construction of a 77-metre high dam across the river Tuirial.
Neepco signed three MoUs with the Mizoram government to install three more hydel power plants in Mizoram — the 635MW Chhimtuipui project, 815MW Lungreng project and 76MW Mat hydro power project.(The Telegraph)
73.1 pc Mizo smokers want to quit tobacco
AIZAWL, APR 1 (AGENCIES): Altogether 73.10 per cent smokers in Mizoram, which has topped all states in tobacco consumption, want to quit the bad habit.
A recent survey conducted by Mizoram State Tobacco Control Society across eight districts revealed that 71.2 per cent of the total population was addicted to smoking, but the
present figure stands at 55 per cent, indicating an encouraging quit rate.
''Mizoram has earned a dubious distinction of topping all states in consumption of tobacco products, but the quit rate is encouraging. The survey also found that 73.1 per cent of the smokers want to quit the bad habit,'' Dr Jane Ralte, SNO-cum-PO of MSTC said at a press conference here today.
She said adults above 18 years of age were interviewed in the survey.
As many as 50.8 per cent of the smokers said they did not find any enjoyment in smoking, while 37.5 per cent still do. While 84.2 per cent admitted that their expenditures on cigarettes caused a financial burden, 10.6 per cent said no to it and 5.2 per cent could not give an answer.
Another positive signs are that while 89.6 per cent of the smokers were well aware that smoking is injurious to health. While 85.3 per cent were also aware that passive smoking is equally injurious to others, as many as 10.3 per cent of them did not believe in it, Dr Jane Ralte said.
As many as 67 per cent of the smokers said 'yes' to the questionnaire: Do you think the government has to take stringent measures to enforce the Control of Tobacco Products Act? While 59.6 per cent of the respondents said they learnt the prohibition of smoking in public places from newspapers 32.7 per cent said they were informed through television.
Even as the state government is rolling up its sleeves to enforce COTPA more stringently, 80.3 per cent of the people are aware of the Act while only 19.7 per cent are ignorant about it.
However, only 18.9 per cent of those interviewed were aware that COTPA has been introduced in Mizoram while 81.1 per cent, though aware of the Act, did not realise that it has already been introduced in the state.
''This clearly shows the need for strict enforcement of the Act,'' said Dr Jane.
Among the eight districts of Mizoram, Kolasib tops the other districts in smoking in public places, the survey also found. More than 1590 people have been fined for smoking in public places in Aizawl. No such punishment has taken place so far in the other district capitals.
With necessary funding from US-based Bloomberg Initiatives, the Mizoram State Tobacco Control Society, had embarked upon the mission of making Mizoram a smoke-free state. ''As of now, we have many miles to go to achieve our mission.
But, the development so far is positive,'' said Lal Riliani, president of Indian Society for Tobacco and Health (Mizoram Chapter), who was also present at the press conference today.
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