Mizo govt has no intention to lift ILP

Aizawl, June 9 (UNI) The Mizoram Government today affirmed that it has no intention to lift the Inner Line Permit (ILP).

This is in sharp contrast to the reports of various newspapers regarding the statements made by Tourism Secretary and Tourism Director at the inauguration of Serow Tours on June 5, an official statement released here said.

The officials had expressed concern that since the foreign tourists are restricted to only small areas under the Restricted Area Permit (RAP), they miss the chance to witness the beauties of Mizoram. They stressed on the need to widen the permitted areas of RAP in favour of tourism in Mizoram.

The statement said a meeting on June 18 at New Delhi would review what had been discussed at the NEC sectoral meeting at Gangtok on tourism and amendment of the RAP.

Since the RAP restricted foreign tourists only to Lenngpui Airport, Aizawl, Tamdil lake and Vantawng falls, the state government was requesting the Centre to consider the amendment of the RAP in order to attract more tourists, it added.

Reacting to this report, the Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) yesterday submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister urging him to repeal his ''intention to lift the RAP and ILP''.

The MPC would never allow the lifting of the Inner Line Regulation (ILR), which is a tool to safeguard the Mizos from economic, cultural and population assimilation, the party stated in its memorandum.

UNI