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CHAPTER-IV

A GEOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION TO AIZAWL CITY

4.1 Introduction

Situated between 23°39'52"-23°48'43"N latitudes and 92°39'49"-92°46'39"E

longitudes at the northern part of one of the smallest states of India, Aizawl is the

administrative capital of the state of Mizoram. The city derived its name from a

combination of two Mizo words, ‘Ai’ meaning Aidu (Amomum dealbatum) and ‘zawl’

meaning ‘flat’. It may mean a piece of flatland where Aidu grows. Presently, the place

from where Aizawl derives its name is located near Raj Bhavan - the official

residence of the Governor of Mizoram.

Aizawl is the primate city of Mizoram. It comprises 26.89 per cent of the

entire population of the state. In 2011, the population of Aizawl was 293,416 and

classified as a class I city as per the Census of India classification of urban centres.

The city is administered by Aizawl Municipal Council (AMC). In 2011, there were 19

Municipal wards under the AMC which altogether comprises 82 Local Councils

(LCs). These Local Councils, previously known as Village Councils (VCs) are the

lowest administrative units. Each Local Council is locally known as Veng. However,

it is to be noted that the term veng has more meaning than a mere administrative

connotation. It is related to neighbourhoods where residents are bound by unity and

feelings towards each other through shared history, participation in religious

congregations and/or community organizations like Young Mizo Association (YMA)

within the territory of veng. Throughout the book, terms like veng, locality and

neighbourhood have been used synonymously.

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Figure 4.1 Location of Aizawl City.

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Figure 4.2 Locations of Local Councils, Aizawl City.

Code Local Council Code Local Council Code Local Council Code Local Council

0 Chaltlang 21 Melthum 42 Bungkawn 63 Chite


1 Selesih 22 Saikhamakawn 43 Bungkawn Vengthar 64 Armed Veng South
2 Durtlang North 23 Tlangnuam 44 Khatla 65 Armed Veng
3 Durtlang 24 Maubawk 45 Zonuam 66 Zarkawt
4 Durtlang Leitan 25 Govt. Complex 46 College Veng 67 Chhinga Veng
5 Muanna veng 26 Mission Vengthlang 47 Venghlui 68 Electric
6 Zuangtui 27 Khatla South 48 Bethlehem Vengthlang 69 Chanmari
7 Bawngkawn 28 Khatla East 49 Bethlehem 70 Ramthar
8 Zemabawk 29 Nursery 50 Tuikual South 71 Aizawl Venglai
9 Zemabawk North 30 Model veng 51 Tuikual North 72 Ramthar North
10 Thuampui 31 Kulikawn 52 Chawnpui 73 Ramhlun South
11 Falkland 32 Venghnuai 53 Zotlang 74 Ramhlun Venglai
12 Edenthar 33 Thakthing 54 Dinthar 75 Ramhlun SC
13 Sakawrtuichhun 34 Damveng 55 Kanan 76 Ramhlun Vengthar
14 Phunchawng 35 Mission Veng 56 Dawrpui Vengthar 77 Laipuitlang
15 Rangvamual 36 Salem 57 Vaivakawn 78 Ramhlun North
16 Tanhril 37 ITI Veng 58 Tuithiang 79 Bawngkawn South
17 Chawlhhmun 38 Republic Vengthlang 59 Saron 80 Chaltlang North
18 Luangmual 39 Republic 60 Dawrpui 81 Tuivamit
19 Lawipu 40 Upper Republic 61 Hunthar
20 Hlimen 41 Tuikhuahtlang 62 Chanmari West

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4.2 Growth of Aizawl City

‘Fort Aijal’ was established in 1890 as a military station by the colonial

Britishers who invaded (or pacified in colonial parlance) the Mizos and subsequently

occupied their homeland to prevent them from invading their neighbouring tea estates.

The Aizawl outpost consists of a military barrack and a few bungalows only. The

newly established outpost was fortified to accommodate around 200 military

personnel only. With increasing migration from the surrounding areas, the outpost

was gradually surrounded by civilian residential areas.

The population of Aizawl increased rapidly after the British occupation from

325 persons to 2890 during 1901-1911. The colonial administrators, however,

perceived the Aizawl outpost as an enclave. To restraint the increasing native people

around the fortified outposts, the colonial administrators imposed two methods of

exclusion–restrictions on number of houses for each locality and imposition of a new

kind of tax known as ‘Personal Residence Surcharge’ (PRS). The number of houses

was fixed for each locality. The following Table 4.1 gives the number of houses

permitted in each locality amounting to a total 722 houses within the settlement.

Thakthing veng which is presently a small locality was permitted the highest number

of houses while Maubawk was permitted only 20 houses. Although there were a few

government quarters at Babutlang, Zarkawt, the area was not considered as residential

area at the time. Apart from these localities, there were residential areas like Sriman

Tilla (Present Zotlang), Dokhama veng (present Bungkawn), Survey Tilla (present

Dinthar), Vaivakawn, Rangvamual, Zemabawk and Chanmari veng which consists of

Hmarkaii Nu Veng and Suklala Veng at the present Chanmari West. No Mizo houses

was found in the first four localities but were occupied by the immigrant Gorkhalis

and, the other localities were expected to be “discontinued by natural process”

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(McCall, 1950:101). As such, number of permitted house was not earmarked for these

localities. By this time, the population of Aizawl was a little higher than 3000 only.

Table 4.1 Number of Houses Permitted in Various Localities of Aizawl, 1932.

Sl. No. Name of locality No. of Houses permitted


1 Venghlui 30
2 Tlangnuam 50
3 Thakthing 150
4 Kulikawn 50
5 Khatla 10
6 Maubawk 20
7 Mission veng 82
8 Dawrpui 30
9 Chhinga veng 25
10 Chaltlang 75
11 Luangmual 50
12 Hlimen 50
13 Durtlang 100
Source: McCall (1980:101).

The personal residence surcharge (PRS) was introduced only in Aizawl (Fort

Aijal) and Lunglei (Fort Lungleh) – the headquarters of North Lushai Hills and South

Lushai Hills respectively. The main objective of the system was “to control and

discourage settlement around Aijal and Lungleh” (McCall, 1980:78). The colonial

administrators justified the enactment of this tax by maintaining that increasing

migration to these two settlements would increase reduction of forest through shifting

cultivation and consequent decline of rainfall and accelerated denudation. The tax was

not levied to government employees. The government also exempted the permanent

staff of the Welsh Mission at Mission Veng from payment of PRS although the

number of houses was fixed at 82 by mutual agreement between the two parties.

The occupation of Aijal by the British introduced not only a new kind of

political and economy system, it also created a new form of residential pattern

markedly different from the native settlements. Firstly, segregation was observed. The

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colonizers fenced their residences and barracks to separate them from the local people

out of fear of death or invaliding from epidemic and other contagious diseases.

Fenced residences were provided with proper drainage, ventilated housing, better

sewage disposal and water supply. All these provisions were made to reduce the risk

of infection from native diseases like malaria and other contagious diseases. It is

argued that fear of catching native diseases provided a pretext for segregation in

colonial cities (Home, 2013).

The case of the missionaries was different. For the missionaries, it was

unthinkable to segregate themselves from the local people whom they have to

befriend and proselytize. However, they maintained strict regulation on Mission Veng

which they set up as their headquarters after buying from the chief of Tlangnuam.

They maintained that houses should be kept apart by 75 foot distance and every

household should have toilet and domestication of animal was not allowed. The

intention of the missionaries was to keep their backyard clean and to prevent native

diseases from spreading. Mission veng may be considered as the only locality which

was established with at least minimal efforts on planning.

The post-independence era has witnessed unprecedented growth of Aizawl

population. During 1951-1991, the decadal growth rates of Aizawl had continuously

exceeded 3 digits which may be unparalleled in the history of urban growth. A

number of factors may be attributed to the high growth rates witnessed during this

period. Firstly, with the Independence of India in 1945, the strict migration control

policy imposed by the Colonial Raj came to an end. This resulted in uncontrolled

migration to Aizawl from various corners of Mizoram due to various socio-economic

push-pull factors.

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Table 4.2 Growth of Population, Aizawl City, 1901-2011.

Census year Population Inter-censal Decadal Average


year Growth Rate Annual
(%) Exponential
Growth Rate
1901 325 - - -
1911 2890 1901-1911 789.23 21.85
1921 3034 1911-1921 4.98 0.48
1931 3250 1921-1931 7.12 0.68
1941 4780 1931-1941 47.07 3.85
1951 6950 1941-1951 45.39 3.74
1961 14,275 1951-1961 105.40 7.19
1971 31,740 1961-1971 122.35 7.99
1981 74,493 1971-1981 134.69 8.53
1991 1,55,240 1981-1991 108.39 7.34
2001 2,28,280 1991-2001 47.05 3.85
2011 2,93,416 2001-2011 28.56 2.51

Source: District Census Handbook, Aizawl District, 1961-2011, Directorate of Census


Operation, Mizoram.

Figure 4.3 Growth of Aizawl City (Source: Town and Country Planning Wing (2002),
Government of Mizoram).

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Secondly, a state-wide insurgency happened between 1966 and 1986. During

the 20 years of insurgency, Aizawl received a large number of ‘war refugees’. This

resulted in large-scale migration to the relatively safer Aizawl town out of fear of

violence, better economic opportunities and quality of life in the growing city.

Thirdly, the upgradation of Mizo Hills District Council into Union Territory in 1972

was highly significant in the process of urbanization. With the attainment of Union

Territory, the power and functions of the local government increased manifold which

resulted in large-scale opening of government jobs and concomitant increase in

employment opportunities in other sectors. The growth of population during 1961-

1981 was spectacular. The decadal growth rates were 122.35 per cent and 134.70 per

cent during 1961-1971 and 1971-1981 respectively. Apart from these, outlying

villages were subsequently incorporated within the city proper. In 1982, the number

of localities was only 26 and it has increased to 82 in 2011.

Interestingly, a reversal of population growth rate has happened after the

1980s. During 1981-1991, the decadal growth rate was reduced to 108.39 from 134.69

in the preceding decade. After the 1990s, the growth rate has declined abruptly to

47.05 during 1991-2001. The growth rate went down further to 28.56 during 2001-

2011. It seems that the pull factors of the city has been waning with increasing

population as a result of decreasing employment opportunities in the post-statehood

era, deterioration of physical infrastructures etc that diseconomies of scale started to

operate. Moreover, the official declaration of 4 bigger settlements as ‘notified towns’

in 1981and another 16 settlements in 1991 as well as the creation of 5 new districts in

1998 may also contributed in reduction of inflow of internal migrants from other

places.

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(a) A View of Northern Part of Aizawl City from Pi Hangi Lunglentlang, Durtlang
Leitan.

(b) A View of Western Part of Aizawl City from Babutlang, Zarkawt.

Plate 4.1 Picturesque Landscapes of Aizawl City from Vantage Points.

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The rapid urbanization in the post-Independence era has led to the

proliferation of housing units at less favourable sites like pre-uninhabited low lying or

very steep sloping surfaces as well as at more favourable sites in the peripheral areas

of the city. Peripheral settlements were gradually incorporated into the city while

existing localities were divided into multiple localities as less favourable sites in these

existing localities were occupied. Moreover, multi-storey buildings started to

dominate the skyline of the inner city to accommodate the increasing population.

4.3 Physical Environment of Aizawl City

Residential pattern and quality of life of a particular place are largely

determined by the nature and characteristics of the physical environment. Certain

locations are avoided for human settlements although poorer people are usually

compelled to stay at these unfavourable locations. In this way, physical environment

also have significant impacts upon the well-being and quality of life of the residents.

Being the southernmost part of the Patkai Hills of the Eastern Himalaya,

Mizoram or in geographical term, the ‘Lushai Hills’ comprises of many hills. The

crests of these hills have been the abode of the early Mizo settlers the reasons of

which may be a number of factors mainly due to health and defensive reasons.

Pachuau (2010) has maintained that the configuration of land surface, climate, water

availability and proximity to arable are important factors determining location of

settlements in Mizoram. He classified settlements in Mizoram into four types on the

basis of location viz. settlement on the hilltops and hill-slope, settlement along the

watershed, settlement along the main road and settlement along the river. He also

mentioned that about 50 per cent of the total settlements in Mizoram are situated on

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hilltop and hill-slopes. Aizawl city is also a hilltop settlement, resting on the crest of a

north-south trending hill which is surrounded by a number of hillocks.

4.3.1 Altitude and Slope

Two relief maps have been prepared to show the spatial variations of altitude

and slope of the entire city. The raw data for these maps were obtained from the

Linear Imaging Self-Scanner (LISS-III) images of Indian Remote Sensing (IRS)

satellites and the process of ‘Digital Elevation Model’ (DEM) was carried out to

obtain these maps with the help of ArcGIS software.

As shown in Figure 4.4 below, the entire city of Aizawl is classified into 5

altitudinal areas viz. very high, high, medium, low and very low altitudinal areas by

applying equal interval method of classification. The highest class with above 1200

meters occupies an area of 2.26 per cent of the total geographical area of 97 km2. On

the other hand, an area of 0.39 km2 that constitute 0.41 per cent of the total area is

classified under the lowest group (below 300 m). Half of the city’s geographical area

lies within the height of 600 to 900 meters and is classified as medium altitudinal

range as shown in Table 4.4 below.

Table 4.3 Classification of Altitude and Slope, Aizawl City.

Category Altitude Category Slope


2
Area (in km ) Percentage Area (in km2) Percentage
Very High 2.19 2.26 Very Steep 3.40 3.51
High 29.93 30.86 Steep 16.66 17.20
Medium 48.65 50.16 Moderate 37.54 38.70
Low 15.83 16.32 Gradual 30.88 31.80
Very Low 0.39 0.41 Gentle 8.52 8.78
Total 97.00 100 97.00 100.00
Source: Computed from LISS-III, IRS-1C, 2008.

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Figure 4.4 Altitude Map of Aizawl City.

The spatial distribution of altitudinal classes shows an interesting pattern.

From Figure 4.4, it may be observed that an elongated ridge cuts across the entire city

into western and eastern parts. This is the main ridge on the crest of which the most

important road in the city is running through. Some ridges extend from the main ridge

in the western and eastern directions. Low altitudinal places (below 600 m) are

normally found at the peripheries. The highest points are found at the most northern

part of the city. Although the city’s landscape is distinctly defined by the elongated

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Aizawl Tlang (Hill) from which the city takes its name, the city may be described as

‘City of Hillocks’ as it comprises a number of small hills. Some of the more important

hillocks and their altitude are given in Table 4.4 below.

Table 4.4 Hillocks and their Altitudes, Aizawl City.

Sl. No. Hillocks Altitude (metres)


1 Durtlang 1362
2 Lapuitlang 1160
3 Chaltlang 1143
4 Beraw Tlang 1042
5 Seventhday Tlang 1026
6 Zotlang 985
7 Luangmual 1063
8 Tuikhuahtlang 1125
9 Tlangnuam 1112
10 Thakthing 1068
11 Hlimen 1165
Source: Computed from LISS-III, IRS-1C, 2008.

Slope is another important aspect of relief. The city is divided again into five

zones on the basis of degree of slope viz. very steep slope with more than 40 , steep

slope (30-39.9 ), moderate slope (20-29.9 ), gradual slope (10-19.9 ) and gentle slope

(>9.9 ) as shown in Figure 4.5. Very steep and steep sloping surfaces constitute 20.71

per cent of the total area while 40.58 per cent comes under less than 20 slope.

Many parts of the city are steeply sloping surfaces and they look like

uninhabitable areas. In the past, steep hill-slopes and low lying areas are usually

avoided. However, due to population pressure, even the most steeply sloping surfaces

have been utilized for construction of residential buildings. Landslides frequently

occur on these steeply sloped terrains during rainy season when excessive Monsoon

rain falls on the relatively young and immature geology of the Mizo Hills.

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Figure 4.5 Slope Map of Aizawl City.

Slumping or sinking of land is another geological hazard that frequently

occurs during Monsoon in some parts of the city. Tectonically, the region is a product

of prolonged subduction of the Indian plate into the Asian plate. As a result, the

geology is unstable and the region is one of the most earthquake-prone regions of the

country.

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4.3.2 Climate

In spite of its tropical location, Aizawl city enjoys a pleasant and moderate

temperature throughout the year due to its altitude and forest. The climate is

considered to be Cwa according to the Köppen-Geiger climate classification. The

maximum and minimum temperature of Aizawl ranges between 26.3°C in April and

11.4°C in January during 1937 and 1992. Local climatic condition does not differ

much in comparison to other attributes of physical environment. In the absence of

secondary data and the difficulty to ascertain micro-climatic differences at small area,

no attempt was made to analyse spatial variation in climatic condition. However, it

has been observed that valleys and low-altitudinal places are relatively warmer and

more humid in comparison to hilltops. They were considered less healthy due to

occurrence of malaria and other diseases. The widespread availability of medicines

has allowed man to overcome limitations imposed by nature and people started to

inhabit these places.

Table 4.5 Mean Monthly Temperature and Rainfall, Aizawl City, 1937-1992.

Month Mean Temperature (°C) Mean Rainfall (mm)


Maximum Minimum
January 20.4 11.4 13.4
February 21.7 12.8 23.4
March 25.2 15.6 73.4
April 26.8 17.5 167.7
May 26.3 18.1 289.0
June 25.5 18.9 406.1
July 25.3 19.1 320.4
August 25.5 19.1 320.6
September 25.7 19.2 305.2
October 24.7 18 183.7
November 23 15.1 43.2
December 21 12.2 15.3
Source: India Meteorological Department (www.imd.gov.in/doc/climateimp.pdf).

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Seasonal distribution of rainfall affects the quality of life and environment in a

number of ways. Mizoram receives heavy excessive rainfall during Monsoon season

that lasts for 6 months while very little rainfall has been received during the remaining

6 months. The average annual rainfall in the city is 2350.9 mm. out of which 60-70

per cent falls during the Monsoon period. The marked seasonal variation in rainfall

distribution has heavily affected the domestic water supply. For domestic use, the city

is almost wholly depending upon Tlawng River which is the longest river system in

the State that runs along the western side of the city. Normally, the volume of the

river heavily declines during the last months of dry season. A number of city dwellers

are forced to buy water from private sellers while many low income households have

to depend on public water springs. The public-owned springs are not found in every

locality but mainly available in the lower reaches of the hill-slopes. In any case,

people have to wait for a long time to fill up their buckets during extreme dry months.

4.4 Land-use and Land Ownership

Cities are built on land and the nature of land on which the city is founded

may determine the layout of the city. They layout of a plain city may be different

from the layout of a hill city due to difference in the nature of land. Moreover, the

location and characteristics of land influence the value of the land which in turn

affects residential choice. Hilltops are more preferred and more valued than hill-

slopes and valley floors. The values of hill-slopes may also vary depending upon the

degree of slopes.

Land is a highly valued and scarce resource in Aizawl city mainly due to

availability of a few good and suitable lands for housing. Land use is directly related

to land value. A particular land use may increase or decrease the value of the land. It

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also affects the quality of the natural environment, with impacts on air quality, water

quality, water supply, the costs of natural hazards such as flooding and earthquakes,

the probabilities of hazards including flooding, and the functioning of terrestrial and

aquatic ecosystems. Land-use decision affects the well-being of individuals.

Geographical attributes like location, slope and altitude are important

determinants of urban land-use and land-cover. Again, LISS-III images from Indian

Remote Satellite (IRS) have been used to obtain raster data of land-use/land-cover.

These raw data were processed through supervised classification in Erdas Imagine

software to classify the data into various types of land-use/land-cover.

Forest covers as large as 68.52 per cent of the total geographical areas of the

city. The physical environment including climate and topography is highly suitable

for natural vegetation. High proportion of forest cover may be attributed to the

topography of the city and the gradual incorporation of peripheral localities within the

ambit of municipal area. Very steep sloping areas with rocky surfaces are not suitable

for housing and are normally come under scrub or open forest depending on the

utilization of the land.

Table 4.6 Distribution of Various Land-use/Land Cover in Aizawl City.

Area covered (km2) Percentage


Dense Forest 27.22 28.06
Open Forest 39.25 40.46
Cropping Area 6.15 6.34
Scrub 10.69 11.03
Settlement 12.38 12.76
Others 1.31 1.35
Total 97 100
Source: Computed from LISS-III, IRS-1C, 2008.

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Dense forests are found at the low-lying, unpopulated peripheral areas. In

hilly-tropical areas, the undergrowths of forests are thickly covered by plants and

shrubs which provide an ideal home for poisonous insects and malarial parasites. As a

result, the importance of green spaces like natural parks and forested areas has been

undermined by many people. However, with increasing awareness on the importance

of forest for conservation and maintenance of biodiversity, regulations of micro-

climate and water flows, a lot of preservation of forest and reforestation works has

been taken out by local people as exemplified in the case of dense forest in Pachunga

university college area.

Built-up area concentrated along the main ridge of the city which is the also

the most densely populated part of the city. Generally, built-up areas coincide with the

crest of the hills and the hill-slopes. Roadways are usually constructed at the crest of

the hills in which settlements are usually set up. New settlements may come up after

construction of roadways.

Built-up area may be differentiated into a number of land-use including

residential land-use, commercial land-use, industrial land-use, institutional land-use,

recreational land-use, transportation land-use etc. Identification and differentiation of

commercial land-use and residential land-use is rather difficult because shops and

markets are usually found together with residential dwellings at the same building.

The geographical areas covered by industrial and recreational land-uses are almost

negligible. Therefore, no attempt has been made to sub-divide built-up areas.

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Figure 4.6 Land-use/Land Cover Map of Aizawl City.

Land ownership is another important factor influencing urban residential

pattern and quality of life. In a traditional Mizo context, land belonged to the Chief

while the commoners have free access to every pocket of land except the Jhum field

allotted to a particular household for a particular year (Saitluanga, 2014:281). Within

a village, the Chief’s house usually sited at the most accessible, good view-point,

usually flat hilltop which was surrounded by the houses of the chief’s councilors. The

common people were allotted the hill-slopes and less favourable sites. In bigger

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villages, there were a number of localities or veng which were differentiated on basis

of clan. The poorer households were usually found at the peripheries.

The disruption of the traditional culture of the Mizo society after the British

occupancy including the abolition of chieftainship and the introduction of monetized

economy has led to the opening of land to the market. After Independence, Village

councils were constituted in every village as elected representatives to administer the

villages on behalf of the government. The village council has the right to allocate land

for residential purposes. The government issued Land Settlement Certificate (LSC) to

those who obtained village council pass for holding the land. In this way, land

becomes a freely saleable commodity.

With increasing urbanization, land becomes a scarce resource and a highly

valued immoveable property. The value of land has been sky-rocketing in bigger

towns. The poorer section of the population could not afford to buy a parcel of land in

the more accessible locations. Here, there is a continuity of the past traditional

residential pattern. The richer section occupies the central areas and the poorer section

moves to the peripheries. The richer people utilize their advantageous position and

locational advantage by obtaining and accumulating land and also inventing in their

owned land by constructing multi-storey buildings for renting to accommodate the

flourishing commercial activities and increasing population. This kind of process may

be described as the starting point of capitalism or in Marxian terminology, a process

of ‘primitive accumulation’ which is the process of accumulation that logically has to

precede capitalist accumulation (Marx, 1967).

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4.5 Transportation Network

Transportation networks shape patterns of urban growth. Good and efficient

transport network is a pre-requisite for urban development and enhancement of

quality of people’s life. Generally, the best locations in the city are the most

accessible locations. In fact, transport network is an important factor that affects land

values within a city. In western cities, the ‘flight to the suburbs’ happened as a result

of the introduction of mass transit system. In contrast to developed plain cities,

suburbs failed to develop in less developed hill cities like Aizawl city due to

underdeveloped transport network as a result of unfavourable topography.

Table 4.7 Important Transport Routes in Aizawl City.

Sl. Average Length (in


No. Name of Road Width km.)
(in metre)
1 Zemabawk - Bawngkawn 7.70 2.98
2 Bawngkawn - Ramhlun 7.60 1.18
3 Bawngkawn - Chaltlang 6.20 1.20
4 Chanmari - Kulikawn (Main road) 8.12 3.50
5 Chanmari - Zion Street 4.45 0.90
6 Vaivakawn - Chanmari 6.20 1.06
7 Vaivakawn - Temple Square 7.30 1.34
8 Zodin Square - Sikulpuikawn via Khatla 6.90 1.02
9 Treasury square - Sikulpuikawn via 6.90 1.02
Republic
Source: Town and Country Planning Wing (2002), Government of Mizoram.

Transport network in Aizawl city is highly determined by the physiography of

the city. The most important route runs along the North-South direction at the crest of

the main ridge of the city. This route - Bawngkawn to Kulikawn route (B-K route)

connects the most important sites of economic, social and political institutions. Land

value is the highest along this B-K route. Other important routes which are connected

to B-K routes include Vaivakawn to Temple road which meets B-K route at Temple

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square, Vaivakawn to Chanmari road at Chanmari veng, College Veng to Republic

road at Sikulpuikawn, Ramthar-Electric Veng-Bazar Bungkawn road at Bazar

Bungkawn and Maubawk-Bungkawn-Khatla road at Khatla.

Figure 4.7 Road Map of Aizawl City

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Traffic congestion is one of the most challenging problems faced by the city.

Roads are usually narrow and congested. Absence of land-use planning, rampant

growth of vehicles, narrow roads and maximum utilization of space along prominent

transport routes have combined to create the city as one of the least inaccessible cities

in the country. The quality of life of urban dwellers and the livability of the city have

been adversely affected by the bad quality of roads.

The city has been witnessing expansion of residential areas along existing or

new transport routes and vacant areas nearby existing neighbourhoods which were not

populated earlier their unfavourable siting. With underdeveloped transport networks

and problem of accessibility, proximity factor became an important factor

determining residential choice. Therefore, unfavourable sites nearby markets and high

status residential areas are gradually inhabited. These sites could be obtained at a very

reasonable price. It seems that, under factors of different constraints, an individual’s

residential choice is more determined by the price of land as well as distance to

markets and well-established localities.

4.6 Economic and Social Environment

Cities are the focal points of regional growth and development. The immature

process of development in the state has been lopsided and highly imbalanced in

favour of Aizawl city. It has been argued that the increasing accumulation of

resources by the city due to sustained favouritism has been creating discontentment

among the lower towns thereby producing serious repercussions in the political

economy of the state (Saitluanga, 2010).

Change in the occupational structure is considered as one of the most reliable

measures of development. From Table 4.8, the urbanization effect may be observed as

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the percentage shares of both cultivator and agricultural labour have been declining

consistently during 1981-2011. On the other hand, the proportion of ‘other workers’

comprising of workers engaged in trade and commerce, government jobs, teaching,

transport, factory, plantation and mining and construction etc has been increasing

from 80.97 per cent to 91.79 per cent during the same period.

Table 4.8 Sectoral Distribution of Workers, Aizawl City, 1981-2011.

Year Main Cultivator Agricul- Household Other WPR Female


workers to to total tural industry workers (main + WPR
total workers labourer worker (%) marginal (main +
population (%) (%) (%) ) marginal)
(%)

1981 32.03 9.52 6.20 3.29 80.97 32.91 18.47


1991 36.94 9.02 4.26 1.02 83.57 45.40 37.57
2001 33.77 3.57 2.16 1.89 92.53 44.15 38.46
2011 34.80 2.96 2.20 1.83 91.79 40.78 31.37
Source: District Census Handbook, Aizawl District, 1961-2011, Directorate of Census
Operation, Mizoram.

The above data clearly reflects the economy of the city as well as the regional

economy that has been witnessing the decline of traditional economy and the rise of

market economy. In the absence of large-scale manufacturing industries, the

overwhelming share of ‘other workers’ may also reflect the status of the city as the

main administrative, commercial and educational centre.

It may be seen that work participation rate (WPR) has increased tremendously

from 32.91 per cent to 45.40 per cent during 1981-1991 but has also declined rapidly

to 40.78 per cent in 2001-2011. Female work participation rate has shown a positive

trend until 2001 but also declined considerably during 2001-2011. The declining work

participation rate after 1991 census may indicate the problem of unemployment which

is one of the most acute problems in the state. The city attracts many unemployed

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youths from various corners of the state. Many of them are educated people who seek

blue collar jobs while there are also skilled and semi-skilled job seekers who want to

live out of unproductive ‘Shifting or Jhum cultivation’ and hope to earn a living in

petty business, construction works and low government jobs.

Large-scale rural-urban migration is one of the main reasons behind the rapid

growth rate of Aizawl city. The city also attracts manual workers from its

neighbouring states. These non-local inter-state migrants are mainly employed in

informal and service sectors as porters, construction workers, barbers etc. Without

industrialization, the city failed to provide employment opportunities to job seekers.

It seems that the absence of large-scale industrialization, however, helps in the

process of social homogenization in terms of racial and ethnic distribution. Inter-state

migrants are few and the city’s population is dominated by the local Mizo tribe. A

number of tribes belonging to Mizo-Kuki-Chin group from outside Mizoram are also

settled. These people have their own dialect but they also speak the local Lusei dialect

and by and large, socio-spatially assimilated into the Mizo mainstream. Besides, many

of them are not permanently settled but short-term migrants due to employment and

other reasons.

The ethnic homogeneity has been maintained due to internal and external

forces that keep the entire state isolated from the rest of the country. The remoteness

of the state in terms of location and distance, low level of industrialization and the

failure of the state to integrate in the globalizing world could be considered as the

main reasons behind the economic isolation and ethnic homogeneity. An important

explanation may be the presence of legislative provisions like ‘Inner Line Regulation’

and those land laws that barred non-local people to obtain or purchase land within the

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State. Thus, while most of the cities throughout the world are tending towards

heterogeneity, Aizawl has shown the opposite by increasing the proportion of the

tribal population who are mostly local people. From Table 4.9, it may be seen that the

proportions of Scheduled Tribe population (ST_P) has shown an increasing trend

during 1981-2011 while the Scheduled Castes population (SC_P) and those who are

neither Scheduled Caste nor Scheduled Tribes hereby denoted as ‘General’ population

(Gen_P) has been decreasing during the same period.

Table 4.9 Composition of Ethnic Population, Aizawl City, 1981-2011.

Year Scheduled Tribe Scheduled Caste General


Population (%) Population (%) Population (%)
1981 88.68 - 11.32
1991 91.42 - 8.58
2001 91.95 0.06 7.98
2011 91.83 0.18 7.99
Source: District Census Handbook, Aizawl District, 1961-2011, Directorate of Census
Operation, Mizoram.

In terms of social development measures, Aizawl city has set a high standard

among its contemporary cities in India. Literacy rate is relatively high with 98.36 per

cent of the total population considered literate. It has increased from 76.45 per cent in

1981. On the other hand, average size of household has been decreasing as

experienced in western developed countries. During 1981-2011, the mean household

size decreased from 5.91 to 4.83. Decreasing household size may imply fragmentation

of households which in turn lead to increasing demand for housing. It may also imply

the decline of traditional lifestyle in which large family size was equated with honour

and prestige.

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Table 4.10 General Socio-Economic Characteristics of Aizawl City, 1981-2011.

Year Total Household Sex Literacy Rate Female


Population Size Ratio (%) Literacy Rate
(%)
1981 74,493 5.91 895 76.45 -
1991 1,55,240 5.49 926 95.41 94.6
2001 2,28,280 5.09 968 97.35 97.39
2011 2,93,416 4.83 975 98.36 98.2
Source: District Census Handbook, Aizawl District, 1961-2011, Directorate of Census
Operation, Mizoram.

Gender equality is an important social characteristic of the Mizo society.

Female literacy rate is almost equal to male literacy rate. Sex ratio is also

considerably high with 975 females per 1000 males. The gap between female work

participation rate and total work participation rate is also decreasing as shown in

Table 4.10. Females are involved in almost all kinds of work except in transport and

related sectors. On the other hand, they dominate trade and commercial activities. All

these indicate the presence of low level of gender discrimination, if not absent at all.

Religion is an aspect of culture of paramount importance. Religions affect

political systems and policies; shape environmental values; impact economic

development; and, frequently, are used by politicians to create dissension and strife

(Weightman, 2011). Christian population constitutes 87 per cent of the total Mizoram

population in 2013. According to Crusadewatch - an international Christian

Organization which has collected city-wise Christian population in India, the

percentage of Christian population in Aizawl was 90 per cent in 2000. Christianity in

Mizoram is divided into a number of denominations. The two major denominations

are the Presbyterian Church and the Baptist Church which dominated the northern and

southern parts of Mizoram respectively. Being located in the northern Mizoram, the

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most dominant denomination in Aizawl City is the Presbyterian Church. Non-local

residents are either Hindus or Muslims while some of them are converted to

Christianity.

The present condition of Aizawl city reflects the absence of planning. There

was no proper physical planning except the minimal planning taken out by the

Missionaries at Mission Veng. The most visible characteristics of the city including

residential buildings at steep hill-slopes, narrow roads, highly condensed settlement,

stepped footpaths, absence of sidewalks along major roads, absence or limited spaces

between two adjacent buildings etc are good indicators of absence of planning. As a

result of negligence of planning, buildings were allowed to construct at dangerous

places. There are no available spaces for establishment of parks and leisure places

within the city proper. The costs of construction and widening of existing roads would

be very high. The future of quality of life in the city seems to be very bleak.

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