Officials from India and Burma will attend the border road opening ceremony between Than Tlang Township, Chin state of Burma and Lawngtlai district, Mizoram state of India. Construction started in 2008- 2009.
The road is from Hakha, the capital of Chin state to Mizoram state and the distance can be covered in a day, said a local.
Mr. Hung Ngai, Chief Minister of Chin state government, Mr. Ngun San Aung, chief engineer and departmental officials of Chin state and four officials of Lawngtlai district of Mizoram will attend. The road was constructed on a self help basis by Chin people from outside and inside Burma at a cost of around Kyat 2,500 lakhs.
“It connects the capital of both states and it will help trading with Lawngtlai and Saiha districts of Mizoram to the Chin state capital. Pu Lalzirliana, Home Minister of Mizoram and Chin state Chief Minister surveyed the road,” said a trader from Than Tlang.
Mostly traders from Hakha and Than Tlang township of Chin state have been dealing in goods to Lawngtlai and Saiha district of Mizoram.
The Bawinu River Bridge is under construction by authorities of both sides.
The Chin state people in rural areas were affected by famine. Chin State has been plagued by acute food shortage following the bamboo flowering phenomenon called mautam that triggered multiplication of the rat population, resulting in the destruction of crops between 2006 and 2007. In rural areas local people are into road construction on a self help basis to collect food from different places. Now, roads are being constructed to connect nearly every village in the state.
“We can say that social issues of the people has been promoted in Chin state after Mr. Hung Ngai became Chief Minister of Chin state,” said a town elder in Hakha.
It learnt that the Chin National Front delegates who recently signed a cease fire with the state government were invited to the ceremony. Khonumthung news