Mizoram paves way for sustainable urban development with 'Thenzawl Peace City' scheme

Aizawl, October 18 (IANS). Taking a historic step towards sustainable and balanced urban development, the Mizoram Government has launched the ‘Thenzawl Peace City’ scheme. Chief Minister Pu Lalduhoma recently chaired a high-level meeting related to the project in the capital Aizawl, in which representatives of the consulting firm IPE Global, which is preparing the project, as well as the Minister of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, K. Sapdanga and senior officials of the state government were present. During the meeting, Chief Minister Lalduhoma said that Thenzawl Peace City Plan is a visionary step to give a new direction to the urban future of Mizoram. The objective is not only to reduce the population and infrastructure burden on the state capital Aizawl, but also to create a modern, clean and balanced city that becomes a center of environmental balance, tourism and economic progress. He clarified that Thenzawl will not compete with Aizawl but will emerge as a well-planned and attractive township model, which will become an inspiration to other parts of Mizoram. The Chief Minister instructed the officials that the State Project Monitoring Committee should play an active role in the continuous monitoring of the implementation of the project. He said that high quality and planning with a long-term vision will be the key to the success of this project. IPE Global presented its strategy at the meeting. It was selected from 18 known bidders. The delegation led by the company’s senior development specialist Anil Bansal said that their organization works in more than 100 countries and has 20 offices in India. The team also announced that work would be started by setting up a permanent office in Mizoram within three weeks. The Thenzawl Peace City Project is part of Mizoram’s broader vision of planned urbanization, environmental harmony and sustainable development. Thenzawl, located in Serchhip district, was selected for the project because of its natural beauty, greenery and expansion potential. There is a plan to develop this area, which currently has a population of about 10 thousand people, as a modern hill city with a population capacity of one million by the year 2045. The proposed area will be about 108 square kilometers. The master plan of the project focuses on environmental protection, social inclusion, efficient infrastructure and green lifestyle. The main aim of the plan is to ensure that development does not affect the local culture nor disturb the environmental balance. Thenzawl Peace City will be designed to give a new impetus to tourism, cultural identity and local economy. Housing projects based on modern amenities, green areas, smart infrastructure, energy efficient buildings and community welfare will be developed in the city. Chief Minister Lalduhoma said that this initiative will not only provide a futuristic urban model but also position Mizoram as a leading state on the national map of sustainable and eco-friendly development. –IANS ASH/DKP