Mizoram govt yet to decide on official ‘political map’

Newmai News Network
Aizawl | November 21


The Mizoram government is yet to decide on drawing official ‘political map’ of Mizoram in accordance with the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873, State Home minister Lalchamliana told the state assembly on Thursday.


In a written reply, Lalchamliana said though the state cabinet had approved the demarcation notified in 1875 under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 as the actual boundary of Mizoram, the state government is yet to plan to draw official 'political map' based on the regulation.


He then said that there are certain things which have to be taken into account before drawing official map.
In July, the state cabinet had declared that a 509 square miles stretch of the Inner Line Reserved Forest notified in 1875 under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873 was the actual boundary of Mizoram.


Meanwhile, state’s apex student body Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) and Joint Action Committee on Inner Line Reserved Forest claimed that chief minister Zoramthanga had already accepted their proposal to prepare the new 'political map' of Mizoram. The organizations also said that the chief minister entrusted the MZP to do the task.
They claimed that the Inner Line Reserved Forest area originally belonged to Mizoram.


It can be recalled here that the anti-corruption watchdog turned political party, People’s Representation for Identity and Status of Mizoram (PRISM) and the MZP had earlier asked the state government to draw new 'political map' covering the entire Mizoram’s territory, including the Inner Line Reserve Forest areas. 


Calling erroneous, the MZP had burnt the existing state’s 'political map' during the protest over border issue in Aizawl on July 19.


The Inner Line Reserved Forest area is a disputed land claimed by both Mizoram and Assam.