Mizoram acting CM ensures adequate food before Christmas

Aizawl, Dec 18 (UNI) Mizorams acting Chief Minister Tawnluia today resolved to take efforts in ensuring adequate supply of rice in the state before the Christmas.

Earlier, Lt Governor M M Lakhera had urged the Centre to immediately allocate an additional monthly quota of rice before the main festival of the Mizo's.

''Christmas is the main festival of the people here and they wont be able to enjoy it in such crisis of food,'' Lt (rtrd) Lakhera said.

Mr Tawnluia also discussed how to tackle the crisis following an alleged failure of FCI to deliver rice in time and the disastrous Mautam famine caused due to massive bamboo flowering.

The FCI had been reminded to deliver the overdue rice before Christmas without fail, an official statement said.

Shillong-based FCI general manager C H Kharshiing had arrived here to take stock of the situation and at least 19,400 quintals of rice was expected to reach here before Christmas, sources said.

Meanwhile, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister K Sangthuama had returned here after taking stock of the food situation in more than 20 villages under Lawngtlai district in south Mizoram.

The minister had assured the villagers that the government was taking initiatives to tackle the food problem and ensure equal distribution of rice among villages with special arrangement for worst-hit villages.

The minister had also inspected the South Bungtlang-Hruitezawl road, a proposed highway for transportation of all essential goods to the state at cheaper rates.

UNI