Mizoram Congress Accuses ZPM Government of Mismanaging Finances, Pushing State Towards Debt Trap

The Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Wednesday accused the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) government of mishandling the state’s finances and pushing Mizoram towards a “debt trap”. Addressing a press conference here, MPCC Publicity Chairman PC Laltlansanga alleged that the state government’s outstanding debt had risen to around Rs 19,085.15 crore, exceeding the current annual budget of Rs 17,076.92 crore. He claimed this translated into a debt burden of around Rs 1.45 lakh per person, including newborns and the elderly. “Among all the governments that have ruled Mizoram, the ZPM government is the worst at managing finances,” Laltlansanga alleged. He said that the government had borrowed around Rs 6,119.8 crore in the first seven months of the current financial year, already surpassing the Rs 5,308 crore borrowed during the previous year. Laltlansanga claimed that the state’s debt had exceeded its annual budget by around Rs 2,008.23 crore, describing the situation as unprecedented in Mizoram. He alleged that the government was increasingly relying on borrowings and was “pushing the people of Mizoram into debt”. The Congress leader further said that his party had demanded that the ZPM government take immediate measures to reduce the state’s debt and improve its financial position. He also criticised the alleged practice of awarding contract works through restricted tenders and departmental works, particularly to favoured individuals and entities, using borrowed funds. The Congress further urged the government to stop relying excessively on fresh borrowings and to adopt measures aimed at strengthening the state’s finances, he said. ZPM leaders declined to react immediately, saying they would respond when necessary.