Process for Import of Rice from Myanmar Delayed: Mizoram

Aizawl, Sep 25 : Tender process for import of rice from neighbouring Myanmar to Mizoram has not been fixed and time for finalisation was extended, state food and civil supplies minister John Rotluangliana today said.

Rotluangliana said the tender seemed to have been extended due to technical reasons.

Mizoram was planning to import rice from Myanmar to ensure non-stop supply of foodstuff during the mega railway block beginning from October 1 due to gauge conversion of the Lumding and Badarpur route in Assam.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has made arrangements to import rice from neighbouring Myanmar and the Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation of India Limited had floated a tender on September 8 for import of one lakh quintal of rice from Myanmar.

The rice would be imported via Zokhawthar in the Mizoram-Myanmar border in Champhai district and would be distributed to Aizawl, Lunglei and Lawngtlai districts.

The godown of the state Trade and Commerce department, having a capacity of 8,000 quintals at Zokhawthar border trade centre on the banks of the Mizoram-Myanmar border river Tiau was being prepared for stocking the rice.

Rotluangliana said the gauge conversion work was expected to be completed by March 2015, but might be delayed.

The mega block would have severe impact on the food supplies in Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and southern parts of Assam.