Mizoram expands Chief Minister's Rubber Mission amid Assam border dispute

Guwahati: Amidst fresh dispute between Assam and Mizoram pertaining to plantation of rubber in Mamit district of Mizoram, Mizoram government has approved proposal for Chief Minister’s Rubber Mission second Phase which envisages rubber plantation in additional 173 hectares.

Recently a meeting was held of top officials from Mizoram’s Mamit district and Assam’s Hailakandi district to diffuse the fresh tension along the interstate border.

There are allegations that forest officials from Assam crossed the border and destroyed the rubber plantation.


Officials in Mizoram said that on August 15 Forest officials from Assam Saikhawthlir village in Mamit destroyed nearly 290 rubber plants. The area is under plantation under the state government backed Chief Minister’s Rubber Mission.

Officials said that Deputy Commissioner K. Laltlawmlova of Mamit informed Assam counterparts that the disputed area lies within Kawrthah Forest Division and local residents have traditional rights to use the reserved forest land for cultivation.

Officials added that Hailakandi Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Jain contested that it was not a boundary dispute but a matter of forest law protection. He said that area is under Assam’s Inner Line Reserve Forest within the Gharmura range and planting activities are restricted there.

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma held a meeting with leaders of the Mizoram Rubber Society (MIRSO) on Wednesday during which the proposal to expand the Chief Minister’s Rubber Mission – second Phase by an additional 173 hectares was approved.

MIRSO President Hrangzuala submitted a report on the proposed activities to be undertaken in villages of Mamit District as entrusted by the Government. Rubber growers expressed their appreciation of the Mission and showed keen interest in further participation.

Under the Handholding Scheme, the original target for the second Phase was 800 hectares, which was subsequently raised by an additional 400 hectares. MIRSO has now sought a further 173 hectares, bringing the total additional target to 573 hectares.

The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to the farmers for their cooperation and reaffirmed the Government’s strong commitment to the programme. He confirmed the approval of the additional 173 hectares and directed senior officials to take the necessary action.

The Chief Minister announced that 100 rubber processing units would be provided with subsidy support to boost production.

In the second Phase of the Chief Minister’s Rubber Mission, a total of 2,400 hectares has been earmarked for rubber plantation. Of this, 1,200 hectares will be implemented with funding support from NABARD, while the remaining area will be covered under the Handholding Scheme. With this approval, the Handholding Scheme will now cover 1,373 hectares in the second Phase.

Assam has an interstate border dispute with Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Nagaland. Parleys are on to resolve border disputes with these states.

On July 26, 2021, there were clashes along Assam-Mizoram border which resulted in the death of seven people and injuries to several others. The Union Home ministry had to intervene.

Assam’s Barak Valley districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi share a 164.6-km long border with Mizoram’s three districts of Aizawl, Kolasib and Mamit.