Mizoram Governor hails state's economic growth

The government's flagship 'New Land Use Policy' helped in strengthening the state economy, resulting in GSDP growth rate at 11 per cent during the 11th Plan period, Mizoram Governor Vakkom Purushothaman said today.
Delivering his gubernatorial address after unfurling the tricolour at the Assam Rifles ground here, Purushothaman said the economic growth rate was higher than that of the national growth recorded at 7.8 per cent.
He said the Planning Commission had so far released Rs 1,208.82 crore under the Additional Central Assistance for implementation of the NLUP while expected fund flow from the central ministries under Convergence Plan was estimated at Rs 760.43 crore by the end of the current fiscal.

"During the last three years of its implementation, the project has had significant impact in rural economy by providing alternative and sustainable livelihood activities to the farmers, thereby reducing their dependence on jhum cultivation by 50 to 60 per cent," he said.
The Governor emphasised on the need to make the state self-sufficient in energy and made a special mention of the proposed construction of 210-MW Tuivai Hydro Electric Project, to be executed on Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, for which Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to the tune of Rs 340 crore has been approved by the Union Finance Minister.

He said the project was the first power generation project in the north east region and the first in the country to be executed on PPP mode and VGF support.
He thanked and congratulated the state election machinery, church, civil societies, media and the general public for having reposed faith and confidence in the government.