On Wednesday, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma expressed serious concern over the unregulated border trade at Zochachhuah in the Lawngtlai district of southern Mizoram, bordering Myanmar, along the Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport (KMMTT) project road, which is being constructed to link Lawngtlai town and Paletwa township in southern Chin state.
Lalduhoma informed the state legislative assembly that the KMMTT road passes through the area in Myanmar, which is currently not controlled by the Myanmar government but by the Arakan Army (AA) and the insurgent group, but the outfit also wants early completion of the project.
While expressing grave concern over the unregulated trade at the border involving a large number of traders from both Mizoram and Myanmar, the Chief Minister said the trade is not officially recognized and there is little what the government can do at present.
Emphasizing the importance of full preparations before the KMMTT project is commissioned, he said that the state government has constituted an Impact Study Team chaired by T. Lalhlimpuia the ruling legislator which had submitted an interim report. Proper action on the unregulated trade at the border will be taken after implementation of the final report by the Impact Study Team, he said.
The chief Minister further expressed weighty concern over a large number of people entering Lawngtlai district from Myanmar through Zochachhuah entry point saying the state government has alerted the Deputy Commissioner and SP of Lawngtlai and the Assam Rifles guarding the border about the situation and also had held meeting with civil societies in the district.
"If the unregulated trade continues unabated, it will soon create serious social problems," he said, adding that something have to be done to bring about order in the area.
A large quantity of goods from Aizawl and other places have been brought continuously to the Myanmar border resulting in the growth of unofficial trading activities in the area and it may soon become uncontrollable as the Myanmar government cannot intervene, he added.
K. Hrahmo, a BJP legislator from adjoining Siaha district also shared the concern and suggested deployment of more Police personnel in the area.