Indo-China border trade further delayed from Lipulekh pass
Indo-China border trade further delayed from Lipulekh pass
B.D.Kasniyal
Pithoragarh, July 10
Over 50 Indian tribal traders, waiting to go to China via Lipulekh pass route, for border trade are still awaiting the permission of Chinese authorities. The Indian administration received a message from Chinese authorities on July 7 to wait as the facilities for the Indian traders are not yet complete at Purang(Taklakot) mart of Tibet.
“We have received a letter on July 7, from one Luosang, the group director of foreign affairs of Purang county that they have only 30 storefronts available at present for Indian traders and their side is developing basic conditions for rest, godowns and shops, therefore they cannot open border trade on July 8th,” said Ashish Joshi, SDM, Dharchula and trade officer designated for this year’s border trade.
The Purang officer has also demanded whole list of traders, transporters, their name, sex, date of birth and ID number besides the name, quantity and weight of goods they are likely to carry with them to Tibet.” The letter mentions that they will inform after scrutiny of documents by concerned department of Purang county,” said the trade officer.
“Even the traders, who want to enter the Tibetan mart without goods to see the latest facilities, have not been permitted to enter Tibet,” said the trade officer.
“As the Indian traders could not reach Tibet on scheduled date of 8th July, have returned to their homes in Dharchula,” said Chakra Singh Garbiyal, a trader and treasurer of Bharat Cheen Yyapar samiti at Dharchula.
SDM Dharchula has said that he has called the traders yesterday and told them to furnish list of goods to be traded on whom they have paid costom duty at Gunji costom office. “The lists of goods with paid custom duty are ready with traders as soon as they deposit it with my office, I will send these lists to Purang authorities in Tibet and hope the trade will be started soon after that formality,” hoped the SDM.
