Crossroad - My New Discovery - Aizawl, Churanchandpur and Imphal
- Part 1 -

S.Manglemjao Singh *

Night view of a part of Aizawl city, Mizoram. :: Pix - Nongamba Ningthemcha

"The sky is so high, but my father is higher,
the mother earth is so heavy,
But my mother is much heavier".
Ancient Meitei proverb

Recently I got chance of travelling to Aizawl the capital city of the state of Mizoram, the easternmost city on the top of the Mizo Hills with high buildings. This city is illuminated by uninterrupted electric lights during night time one can think of another "Switzerland of the East". The most important things which I have seen during my three nights stays at Aizawl are as follows:

1. All roads leading to Aizawl are pucca and black topped,
2. There is no dust on the road,
3. Roads are narrow,
4. There is uninterrupted supply of power in the city of Aizawl,
5. Streets are decorated by electric lamps,
6. There is proper supply of drinking water,
7. As the roads are narrow small cars like Maruti Zen, 800 and Alto are used as taxi
8. Bazaar area is neat and clean; and plastic packets and waste papers are not seen in the streets of Aizawl.
9. Shopping malls are coming up in the city of Aizawl,

The two basic needs of modern life in the city are nothing but power and water supply. There is regular uninterrupted supply of electric lights in Mizoram and the consumers also pay taxes in time and as a result Government of Mizoram ensures proper and uninterrupted supply of power. Therefore even foreign farms are coming to Mizoram to establish new industrial estates.

With the return of peace in the state within short time Mizoram will surpass all the state of North-East in all aspects of development both social economic development due to lack of infrastructure and unfavourable topography. There is undulating surface and very heavy rainfall during the summer season resulting huge soil erosion. Now as human resource is the most important resource everything has been make up.

Mizoram surpasses all state in India in producing high ranking officers and these high ranking officers are posted all over the India and even in many of foreign countries. These high ranking officers are the most important resources of the state and there are many other retired officers who advised the young officers in the field and making the young ones more meaningful while performing their duties. With the result of good humane environment many foreigners are also coming every now and then and even the foreign farms are interested in establishing new industrial estates.

Regular supply of Water in Mizoram:

Aizawl is located on a high undulating surface in the Mizo Hills and the streams which are flowing in Mizoram are far away from this hill topped city- a growing city in the eastern hill of India, on the western border of South East Asia.

People pay huge taxes for regular supply of water. Reportedly each house hold pay at least Rs. 100 monthly as water tax. If one is to establish some business farms which consume more water than he is to get clearance from the Govt. It is said that privates schools and privates hospitals pay Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 30,000 as water tax monthly, it varies according to consumption. With the collection of huge taxes Government ensures regulars supply of drinking water. Aizawl City Area is neat and clean: The city center and its suburb are neat and clean. Shopping Malls are coming up in the city of Aizawl, Millennium Centre building is a good example.

Tourists attractions of Aizawl and its environs: A very peaceful city in the whole of North East India located on an undulating surface with full of multi-storied buildings by illuminated but uninterrupted electric lights with proper supply of drinking water. Now, Aizwal becoming the most attractive city in the whole of North East India. Champhai, the emerald border town of Mizoram, which is now regarded as the "Fruit Bowl of Mizoram" is only 192 Kms away from Aizawl towards Myanmar.

Well-tended vineyards, passion fruit orchards and newly introduced kiwi fruit plantations in the surrounding hill slopes gives a beautiful landscape are worth to the visitors. Mizo people took special interest to attract foreigners and other tourists in their state. Private tourist spot and recreation centers are also created by some private individual and farms.

Mizo Taj Mahal constructed by one school owner in memory of his beloved wife whom died in a car accident is a good example.

As there is no proper space for urban development there are high building in the narrow ridges/top of the hills. These buildings are mostly six to eight stories constructed on the hill tops or on the ridges or on the slopes. This is necessary for giving accommodation to the population who come to this urban agglomeration for different services. The roads are narrow but neat and clean and fully black topped, and therefore the city is congested on a high hilltop. For all these reasons a special plan for disaster management must be created on priority. There must be special cells for evaluation, rehabilitation, reconstruction and so on.

But for the time being Aizawl is the cleanest city in the whole of North East India surpassing Shillong, Guwahati or Imphal in this aspect. Please see this recent change made by the Government of Mizoram contributed strongly by its people. When the author was in the city of Aizawl recently(2006, November) he was quite wonder-struck and completely charmed by the beauty of the city and then even compared it to one of the cities in Switzerland (like a city in Swiss Alps). Every visitor will be charmed by this knew advancing city if seen during the night-time as the same is illuminated by uninterrupted electric lights.

While traversing through the streets and markets places one will fine a neat and clean city. Reportedly the Young Mizo Association(YMA) is taking the charged of maintenance of city cleanliness. Thanks to the YMA (Young Mizo Association) for their good works and high civility. Now we have to learn many lessons from our Mizo Brothers and Sisters.


*** This article was written in 2007 when the author was SP/Churachandpur

To be continued..