Mizoram govt to regulate Indo-Myanmar border trade

Aizawl, Apr 12 (UNI) The Mizoram government has worked out new stratgies to regulate illegal trade of various contraband items through Indo-Myanmar border.

Following the Union Home Ministry's proposal of Indo-Myanmar border fencing, the state government would regulate trade between the two countries through only one gate at the land custom station in the border town of Zakhawthar, the official sources said here today.

A checkpost would be set up at Zakhawthar where representatives of Customs, Immigration and Narcotics, NGOs and local police would be present round the clock.

To arrest the ongoing illegal trade, items of third country origin might be brought under the India-Myanmar Trade Agreement provisions or under the clearance of third country origin goods vide Luggage Rule 1944.

Periodic inspection of boundary pillars would be carried out to stop enroachment, they said.

''The need for raising additional Assam Rifles units for checking and border management is also in the pipeline. The project had already approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security,'' the officials added.

Currently, there are 22 exchangeable goods under the trade agreement. These are mustard seed, pulses and beans, fresh vegetables, fruits, garlic, onion, chillies, coriander, soyabean, katha etc.

However, the government has proposed to include some new items like mango, bicycles and its parts, life saving drugs, cosmetics, fertilisers, textiles and pan masala in the list of the trade agreement, the officials said.

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