The blockade had been scheduled over unresolved land claims connected with road construction. Its withdrawal followed a meeting between Lawngtlai deputy commissioner Donny Lalruatsanga, leaders of the Central Young Lai Association and representatives of the Lawngtlai District Landowners’ Association.
The association represents 138 landowners affected by the project. Lalruatsanga said the state government was working to address their concerns and confirmed that the detailed project report had been submitted to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
He also said Mizoram’s chief secretary had discussed the matter with the Prime Minister’s Office. The deputy commissioner assured the landowners that the issues raised at the meeting would be conveyed to the chief secretary for further action, while the association pressed for an early settlement.
The landowners said the project road passes through 196.75 hectares, including 84.65 hectares classified as forest land that they claim is privately owned. Resolving these land grievances remains their primary demand, and the association has warned that it will block the road if the concerns are not addressed by November 15.
The Kaladan project is part of the Centre’s Act East policy and is intended to establish a transport connection between India’s Northeast and Southeast Asia. In Mizoram, the road is planned to link Lawngtlai with Paletwa in southern Chin state of Myanmar, before connecting to Sittwe port in Rakhine state through an inland waterway.
The meeting was attended by the additional deputy commissioner, Central Young Lai Association leaders, landowners’ association representatives and members of the Mizoram Journalists Association’s Lawngtlai unit. The immediate next step is for the district administration to communicate the landowners’ concerns to the state chief secretary before the deadline set by the association.