Mizoram: Considering handing over Lengpui airport to AAI

Aizawl: The new Mizoram government led by Chief Minister Lalduhoma is considering handing over the state’s only airport at Lengpui near Aizawl to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), an official said. The official said that in the Council of Ministers meeting held on December 14, it was decided that the state government would take steps to hand over the Lengpui airport to AAI. Similarly, it was also decided in the meeting that the government will find ways to hand over the one-time Zoram Medical College (ZMC) to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, he said. Lengpui Airport and ZMC are owned and maintained by the state government. Lengpui is located about 29 km west of Aizawl, while the ZMC is located at Phalcon, about 16 km from the state capital. Home Minister K. Under the Sapdanga initiative, the state government has recently removed the dropping zone exclusively reserved for VIPs at Lengpui Airport and opened it to the public. Lalduhoma had earlier said that the new government would adopt the path of privatization and disinvestment to deal with the serious financial crisis facing the state government. Officials said the new government believes that a small state like Mizoram, which has limited sources of income, cannot maintain the airport as it is extremely expensive to maintain. The state government also abolished the Resource Mobilization Department set up by the previous Mizo National Front (MNF) government. Instead, the Mizoram Resources Mobilization Committee (MRMC) was formed to undertake the task of raising the resources of the state. Lalduhoma, who also holds the planning and program implementation and finance portfolios, is the chairman of MRMC, while former state chief secretary and retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Haukhuma Houzel was appointed vice-chairman. Houzel has been appointed to the post of Minister of State and will receive a monthly salary of Re 1.