Indo-China border trade to resume from Aug 1
Indo-China border trade to resume from Aug 1
B.D.Kasniyal
Pithoragarh, July 28
The Indo -China border trade from Lipulekh pass is to be resumed from August 1, this year as the Chinese authorities in Tibet have permitted names of only 20 Indian traders without goods in the first batch of Indian traders citing the lack of residential space for more than that number, Ashish Joshi, SDM, Dharchula and trade officer said today.
“We have sought names of 20 traders for the first batch, from the Indian traders and expect it by evening today. The traders will be able to select the names,” said the SDM.
The border traders association, Bharat Cheen Seemant Vyapar Sanstha has said that they will give first priority to those top 20 traders who have left their goods in rented godowns in Taklakot in 2019, when the trade closed due to Covid epidemic that year. “Before taking fresh goods from India, we want to take stock of our unsold goods stored in godowns in Taklakot mart left over there due to expiry of trading time that year,” said Jeewan Singh Rongkali president of Bharat Cheen Seemant Vyapar Sanstha at Dharchula.
Resumed in 1992, the Indo-China border trade from Lipulekh pass, that stopped due to Covid epidemic in 2019, is done by tribal traders of high Himalayan valleys of Vyans Darma and Chaudas, as these were the traders who suffered most after their century old trade with parts of western Tibet ended after Indo-China border conflict in 1962.
The trade this year, initially announced to open from June 1, was postponed by Tibetan authorities citing lack of residential and shopping facilities in Purang mart and sought time from Indian traders to construct the basic facilities till August 1.
