Mizoram opposition leader and Mizo National Front (MNF) president Zoramthanga on February 16 launched a sharp attack on the state government, accusing it of adopting questionable procedures while acquiring land for the expansion of Lengpui Airport.
Speaking to reporters in Aizawl, Zoramthanga said MNF candidates contesting the upcoming Aizawl Municipal Corporation elections had flagged concerns over what they described as an unusually high compensation paid for land near Lengpui Airport for the Indian Air Force (IAF). He noted that although the IAF has been seeking land in the area for years and surveys had been conducted earlier, the manner in which the present government handled the acquisition raised serious doubts.
He pointed out that a preliminary notification for the project was issued on May 15 last year under the 2014 amendment to the Land Acquisition Act. However, he alleged that the mandatory Social Impact Assessment (SIA) was later cancelled by the Revenue Minister, who reportedly termed it unnecessary. Zoramthanga argued that a minister does not have the authority to override provisions laid down by an Act of Parliament.
According to him, even before the final notification was issued, more than Rs 188 crore had already been deposited into the account of the Aizawl Deputy Commissioner for land acquisition. He further claimed that compensation payments were disbursed before the final notification was officially published, bypassing due legal process. “They were in a hurry to receive the funds and ignored proper procedures,” he said, adding that the matter may ultimately be decided in court.
At the centre of the controversy is the Rs 187.90 crore paid by the state government to acquire private land for the IAF. Earlier, both the MNF and the Congress had submitted separate complaints to the Chief Vigilance Officer, demanding a federal-level investigation into the alleged irregularities.
Opposition leaders also alleged that two individuals who were not the original landowners received large sums — one reportedly around Rs 70 crore and another over Rs 117.90 crore — while the actual landowners were left with little or nothing. They further claimed that a process which usually takes years was completed in just about 70 days.
Among other allegations are the reported waiver of the Social Impact Assessment and failure to notify village councils, both of which are required under the Land Acquisition Act, 2013.
Meanwhile, the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM)-led government has denied the allegations and instead blamed the previous MNF administration. State Revenue Minister Lalchhanhima alleged that during 2019–2021, the MNF government had attempted to permanently transfer the land to the IAF — a move he claimed would have violated state land protection laws.
With municipal elections approaching, the issue has now escalated into a full-blown political confrontation, with both sides accusing each other of lacking transparency in the high-value land deal.