Aizawl: Mizoram CM Lalduhoma, who also holds general administration department portfolio, has agreed to refer the Sialkal Range Development Council Bill, 2026, to an assembly select committee after the bill he introduced in the state legislative assembly was debated on Monday.While introducing the bill, the CM said the Sialkal Range Development Council Bill, 2026, is a sensitive bill as there have been objections from some civil societies. He appealed to the members of the assembly to exercise caution during the discussion and if possible reach a consensus.
He said the Sialkal Range Development Board has already been constituted earlier but the present govt wishes that it should be legislated. Lalduhoma explained that the council bill will cover six villages — four in Saitual district and two in Champhai district.The six villages specified in the proposed bill are where Paite community is highly concentrated and adjoining neighbouring states of Manipur and Myanmar. This fact has invited opposition from the central committee of the Young Mizo Association (YMA) which had warned against division of Mizoram on the line of sub-tribes or communities as well as further balkanisation of the state by carving out some areas based on a particular sub-tribe.