Aizawl, March 7: Peace in Mizoram dominated Governor A.R. Kohli?s speech on the opening day of the budget session today.

?The number of crimes registered in 2005 has decreased by 32 per cent against the previous year. Several weapons and ammunition smuggled across the borders were seized and the culprits brought to book,? Kohli said, attributing the achievement to various organisations, apart from the police force.

Kohli said 146 villages within the state had not witnessed any crime during the past five years and urged voluntary organisations to help the state and the people make efforts in making Mizoram a crime-free society.

The governor said during the past year, the excise department booked 513 drug traffickers and abusers while 3,254 people were held under the state?s Liquor Total Prohibition Act.

The excise department collected a total of Rs 117.3 lakh against its target of Rs 136 lakh.

Praising the Young Mizo Association (YMA) for its crusade against drugs, Kohli said the organisation?s actions were commendable. He added that every member of society should support the government and the YMA in their fight against substance abuse.

Kohli said with the introduction of value-added tax (VAT) in the state, the state?s revenue collection has increased by 45 per cent compared to last year. While only Rs 27.34 crore had been collected by the taxation department during the last financial year, the collection during the current financial year had gone up to Rs 39.59 crore.

Kohli said the public health engineering (PHE) department provided safe drinking water to 58 habitations in rural areas. He added that major projects in five bigger villages would be completed soon. The PHE department has supplied drinking water to 450 rural schools. Major schemes that will be completed in the coming financial year are water supply in Lengpui, Saitual, Thenzawl and Mamit. The water supply projects would cost Rs 576.81 lakh.

Talking about the public works department, Kohli said this department had improved and widened 54.75 km of roads while resurfacing 212.19 km.

On river communication, he said Rs 150 lakh have been used against the sanctioned amount of Rs 389.52 lakh for improving the Kolodyne river for navigation.

Works are being carried out for NH 44A, NH 150 and NH 154 as well as construction of the new capital complex at Khatla, Aizawl.

According to Kohli, advance stocking of sufficient foodstuff before the monsoons has satisfactorily been achi-eved. He said 34 supply godowns have been reconstructed from funds received from Bamboo Flowering and Famine Combat Scheme.

On tourism, Kohli said during the current fiscal, 29,893 domestic and 230 foreign tourists visited the state and the tourism department collected Rs 52.8 lakh in revenue.

Saying 2005-06 had been the golden year of sport for Mizoram, Kohli said it was in this year that ?we had witnessed sportspersons from the state receive laurels and shining in the pinnacle of glory?.

Kohli said an annual plan of Rs 4,000 lakh for 2006-07 has been earmarked for the health sector. From this fund, Rs 2,400 lakh will be allocated to health services while Rs 1,600 lakh will go to hospitals and medical education.

Funds for 141 new posts of Hindi teachers have been received from the Centre to complement the 350 existing posts, the governor said.