Aizawl, Mar 23 (PTI) Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Monday said a Rs 700-crore cancer super speciality hospital is being developed on the northeastern outskirts of Aizawl as part of efforts to strengthen the state’s healthcare infrastructure.
Kicking off the ZPM’s campaign for the elections to the 19-member Aizawl Municipal Corporation, he said the facility is being developed at Zemabawk with financial support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to provide advanced oncology treatment within the state.
“Once completed, this hospital will be a lifeline for the people of Mizoram. It will reduce the need to travel outside the state for expensive cancer treatment,” he said.
Speaking about the initiatives taken during the ZPM government’s first two years in office, Lalduhoma said efforts are underway to upgrade healthcare facilities across the state.
He said the Aizawl Civil Hospital is being upgraded, and a trauma centre has already been made operational.
Plans are also being drawn up to introduce facilities for cardiac surgery, kidney transplants and in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), he added.
The CM said Zoram Medical College and Hospital (ZMCH) has also been strengthened, while the Regional Institute of Paramedical and Nursing Sciences (RIPANS) at Zemabawk is being expanded into a 100-bed facility, which is expected to be inaugurated soon.
He said a 50-bed hospital is under construction at Kulikawn in Aizawl at a cost of Rs 34.75 crore, while Rs 19.72 crore has been earmarked for a 100-bed psychiatry hospital nearby.
Apart from healthcare, Lalduhoma also spoke about the steps being taken to improve the drinking water supply and power infrastructure in the state capital.
“To augment water supply, the government plans to construct a 1.2 million-litre reservoir at a site vacated by the Assam Rifles at a cost of Rs 4 crore,” he said, adding that Aizawl currently has around 86,200 water consumer households and demand is rising with 200–250 new connections being added every month.
Lalduhoma said Rs 63 crore has been allocated for the Alternative Gravity Water Supply Scheme and Rs 3.5 crore for a water treatment plant.
Work on the Aizawl Northern Pipeline project is also underway, which will include automated systems to prevent water tank overflows, he said.
“Additionally, Rs 6.88 crore has been earmarked to strengthen the water distribution network in western Aizawl,” he said, while urging residents to adopt rainwater harvesting practices.
Lalduhoma said his government was planning to set up a power sub-station at Lammual at Rs 22.36 crore and has allocated Rs 11.10 crore for the replacement of electricity poles to improve supply reliability.
Polling for the 19-member AMC is scheduled for April 21, with counting to be held on April 27. PTI CORR SOM
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