AIZAWL, May 28: The North Eastern Council (NEC) has invested Rs 339.06 crore in development projects across Mizoram during the 15th Finance Commission period (2022–26).
According to an official statement issued on Thursday, the expenditure was made under the Schemes of NEC (SoNEC) and the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS-Roads) for development and strengthening of healthcare, education, connectivity, tourism, agriculture, and livelihood sectors.
Under the SoNEC programme alone, the NEC spent Rs 123.83 crore on a wide range of projects, which covered medical and veterinary facilities, market infrastructure, educational institutions, cultural centres, sports infrastructure, and community development works, it said.
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The Council also prioritised agriculture and allied sectors by supporting wet rice cultivation, potato seed production, fisheries, piggery, poultry, livestock development, areca nut farming, and passion fruit processing.
It further supported preservation and promotion of Mizoram’s cultural and natural heritage through the establishment of cultural heritage centres, tourism circuits, ecological parks, and other cultural infrastructure aimed at boosting eco-tourism and cultural tourism in the state.
In the road sector, six projects worth Rs 277.99 crore were taken up under the NESIDS-Roads programme during the 15th Finance Commission period.
Of these, two projects worth Rs 25.19 crore have already been completed, the statement said.
The Council also highlighted the upgradation of the Saiha-Lungbun-Tlangnuam-Haka road, which is expected to improve connectivity between Mizoram’s southern districts and the Myanmar border, supporting the broader objectives of India’s Act East Policy.
The Council also expanded youth engagement and scientific outreach programmes during 2025–26.
Under the Ashtalakshmi Youth Exchange Programme, 581 students from different parts of the country visited premier institutions in the Northeast. Mizoram University hosted 44 students from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep in January this year.
Under the NE-SPARKS (North East Students’ Programme for Awareness, Reach and Knowledge on Space) initiative, 99 students from Mizoram were among 786 students from the Northeastern region who visited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to promote scientific awareness and innovation.
The NEC also released funds in April for several ongoing projects in Mizoram, including livestock rearing support in the Sinlung Hills Council (SHC) area, establishment of a State Veterinary Information and Resource Centre, construction of a market building at West Phaileng in Mamit district, and tourism development works at Vangchhia in east Mizoram’s Champhai district under the “Our Heritage, Our Treasure” initiative.
Additionally, Rs 20.09 crore was released under the NESIDS-Roads programme during April for ongoing road works, including the construction of the Pukzing–Silsury road and the Tualpui–Champhai road. (PTI)
