All government officers remained closed on Tuesday to observe the bandh.
A group of landowners in the northern part of the state has also threatened to put up an indefinite blockade on National Highway-306 and 6, the lifeline of Mizoram that connects the state to the rest of the country, over the issue of compensation. The proposed indefinite strike will begin on Thursday, the day the president arrives in the state.
Starting from Tuesday, areca farmers and villagers in Hachheck constituency bordering Assam, started picketing government offices to prevent government employees from going to their offices.
Police said there were no untoward incidents during the protest.
Hachhek Bial Kuhva Chingtu Pawl (HBKCP), the association representing areca growers in Hachhek area, has asked the state government to take measures to solve the problems faced by farmers in selling fresh areca nuts in local markets and transporting them outside. the state
The general secretary of the farmers’ society, Lalremruata Khiangte, said the agitation had increased pressure on the state government.
He said that the strike against government offices will continue until November 4 and will block inter-state and intra-state highways in Hachhek constituency from November 5 to November 8 if the government does not take action on or before November 4.
The agitators would go into an indefinite total shutdown from November 9 if the government still fails to resolve their issues on or before November 8, he said.
Out of 32 villages in the assembly constituency, 30 villages, which grow betel nuts, could not sell and transport their crops to Assam for a long time, he said. He said that the leaders of the black areca farmers’ society have met the highest authorities of the state government, including chief minister Zoramthanga on the issue several times but to no avail. “Despite an agreement between the chief ministers of Mizoram and Assam in September, the Mizoram grown fresh areca nuts cannot be transported to Assam due to the crackdown on Burmese dried areca nuts by the Assam government which has led to major marketing problems for farmers,” Khiangte said. . .
An official said that the state government is making efforts to solve the problems of the farmers.
He had earlier made a proposal to set up processing units to cultivate locally grown areca nuts and a market survey was also conducted to ensure that the betel nuts grown by the state are sold at least in local markets.
Meanwhile, a landlord association in Kolasib district has called for an indefinite road blockade on NH-306 and NH-6 from Thursday. Land owners between Vairengte and Kawnpui villages in Kolasib district have demanded compensation for their land affected by the widening of national highways.
Association secretary H. Lalrinawma said the compensation is delayed due to some issues between the state forest department and the National Infrastructure and Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), the construction company that owns the Center that will execute the widening work. Officials of the state forest department and NHIDCL were not available for comment on the compensation issue.
Earlier, NHIDCL said that the highway project between Vairengte and Kawnpui is delayed due to forest issues.
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