Aizawl: The Mizoram government has refuted claims that it plans to move the state capital from Aizawl to Thenzawl in Serchhip district.
In a statement, the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) government clarified that a “clerical error” in a letter sent by the Centre to the state administration led to the misunderstanding that the capital would be shifted to Thenzawl.
The main opposition party, the Mizo National Front (MNF), had accused Chief Minister Lalduhoma of secretly trying to shift the capital to Thenzawl, which is located about 93 km from Aizawl.
The MNF alleged that the chief minister was seeking funds from the Centre for this plan.
Thenzawl is a census town located about 93 km from Aizawl, and it falls under the Serchhip constituency from where Chief Minister Lalduhoma was elected consecutively in the 2018 and 2023 assembly polls.
In a press statement, MNF general secretary Zodinpuia alleged that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs sent letters to state officials on April 24 with the subject, “shifting of state capital from Aizawl to Thenzawl.” The letter reportedly asked for a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to be prepared for the move.
The state’s Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Department later clarified that the letter from the Centre contained a “clerical error.”
The department explained that the letter was actually about a Rs 10 crore fund to prepare a DPR for a “Thenzawl peace city” project, and not for relocating the capital.
On April 4, Lalduhoma said that plans were afoot to develop Thenzawl and the surrounding areas as a ‘peace city’ to house about 10 lakh people.
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Chief Minister Lalduhoma expressed optimism about securing financial assistance from the Centre for the project, noting that he had previously discussed the plan with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The CM had also said he discussed the plan with the 16th Finance Commission, and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs approved Rs 10 crore to develop a master plan for the project.
