Another hiccup in Indo-China border trade
Another hiccup in Indo-China border trade
B.D.Kasniyal
Pithoragarh, July 2
The travel of Indian traders to Chinese territory of Tibet for border trade this year have again got delayed for the third time this year, following a WhatsApp communication from Nepalese traders present in Taklakot Tibetan mart which stated that the Indian traders will have to present a list of goods brought for trade approved with signature of Indian traders officers was the case with Nepalase traders. This has created confusion and further delay in the departure of traders with their mule trains.
“If this is true than we will have to list the goods and got it approved by Indian authorities resulting in further delay of border trade with China this year,” said Jeewan Singh Rongkali, president of Border Traders Association in Dharchula.
According to Rongkali, this year’s border trade has already got delayed by a month due to various reasons.” The traders were expecting to reach Taklakot on July 8th, but if such communication has officially been received by administration it will get further delay. Had we reached in time ,we would have sold out 30 percent goods till date, ” claimed Ronkali.
SDM of Dharchula and trade officer designated Ashish Joshi has denied any such communication received from Chinese side or ministry of external affairs, Government of India.
” We have no such official communication and it seems that it has been communicated via social media by Nepalese traders about the documents demanded from them by Chinese authorities. We are confirming truth on it from our official sources, ” said the SDM.
Indo-China border trade from Lipulekh pass, was resumed this year after 2019, when the trade was closed due to corona epidemic. The border trade was permitted by both the countries from 1992 after the centuries old trade gone closed following Indo- China border conflict in 1962.
