Zoramthana to combat rodent menace in Mizoram

Aizawl, Aug 2 (UNI) Chief Minister Zoramthanga has assured to take all measures to combact the increasing rodent population in the state following massive bamboo flowering.

Addresing newsmen he said "we are banking on our past experience and would try to ues the latest technologies to fight the disaster." He also added the state government had planned to allocate Rs 600 crore to work out Bamboo Flowering and Famine Combat Scheme (BAFFACOS).

The rodents have multiplied rapidly in many villages of Champhai, Mamit, Kolasib, Serrichip and Saiha districts, a year early than predicted, said official sources.

Mr James Lalsiamliana, head of rodent control team in the agricultural department, said so far 14 rodent (murid) species were positively identified on the basis of specimens or photographs.

An additional 20 species are likely to occur in Mizoram on the basis of their known regional distributions, he added.

In 1966, the state was plauged by 'mautam' a famine sparked by rampage rats polishing off standing crops.

The Mizo National Famine Front (MNFF) formed by the late Laldenga in the aftermath of the 1959 bamboo flowering accused the then Assam government, under which the state was a district council area, of not giving any relief to the famine struck Mizoram.

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