Bru repatriation preparations almost complete: Minister

Preparations for repatriation of Bru refugees, from six relief camps in neighbouring North Tripura district, are almost completed, Mizoram home minister R Lalzirliana informed the state legislature here today.
   
Replying to a question from Lalrobiaka of the ruling Congress, Lalzirliana said that the road map for repatriation process had been submitted to the Union home Ministry in which proposals for resettlement of the Brus, construction of health centres and educational institutions and others were included.
   
"We hope that the preparation can soon be concluded after the centre give financial sanctions for the proposed expenditure of Rs25.86 crore for implementation of the repatriation road map," he said.
   
He said that the Brus, once repatriated would be settled in different districts where they had settled before migrating to Tripura during the last part of 1997 and that they should not be concentrated in one assembly constituency.
   
He added that additional Rs33 crore had been sought from the Centre for the proposed Special Development Scheme of developing the Bru inhabited areas comprising the western belt of the state.