Aizawl: The Mizoram government is advancing plans to transfer control of Lengpui Airport to the Indian Air Force (IAF), a decision formalized during a cabinet meeting on October 16, 2024.
This move has ignited widespread debate and criticism across various sectors of the state.
The Working Committee on Lengpui Airport, led by Chairman TBC Lalvenchhunga, is drafting a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the IAF.
As per the proposed arrangement, the IAF will assume responsibility for maintaining the airport’s runway and air traffic control, while the state government will retain oversight of other management aspects.
The committee is expected to finalize its negotiations and submit a comprehensive report within three months.
The decision has met significant opposition from civil society groups and political entities. The NGO Coordination Committee, an umbrella organization representing key groups such as CYMA, MHIP, MUP, MZP, and MSU, has expressed strong disapproval.
In a statement issued on August 9, 2023, the committee emphasized its concerns about ceding control of what it views as one of Mizoram’s most critical resources.
Political criticism has been equally sharp. Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee President Lal Thanzara denounced the decision on January 17, accusing the government of financial mismanagement. “With the state already burdened by over ₹3,000 crores in debt and borrowing ₹3,393 crores last year alone, it is unfortunate that the government is considering handing over Lengpui Airport—a facility constructed with ₹979 crores under the Congress ministry—to the IAF,” he stated.
The government’s plan has raised questions about the long-term implications for state control and financial independence.
Critics argue that transferring the airport to the IAF undermines local authority over a strategic asset, potentially setting a concerning precedent for future resource management.
As the state government prepares to move forward with the handover, the growing chorus of dissent highlights the contentious nature of the decision, with calls for a reassessment gaining momentum across Mizoram.
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