Committee to monitor the Nathu La border trade

Gangtok, Jul 17: The Sikkim government today decided to constitute a committee to monitor border trade through the recently opened Nathu La on the Indo-China border and solve the problems facing the traders.

Chief Minister Pawan Chamling directed state Chief Secretary to constitute the committee at the earliest and to monitor trade on monthly basis.

The Chief Minister gave the direction at a meeting of the traders and officials, convened to discuss the problems faced by the traders. All Ministers, Secretaries, departmental heads, members of the state Chambers of Comerce, MLAs and Panchayat members attended the meeting.

Mr Chamling asked all depatments to take the committee seriously and solve the problems of the traders if it came under the jurisdiction of their departments.

Speaking on the impasse in the trade over the issue of Import-Export Code (IEC) and the Permanent Account Number (PAN), Mr Chamling said, '' We have taken up the issue with the Centre.

Bureaucratic contact has been established and it will be solved in a couple of days. '' Border trade had been stalled as the Customs department refused to allow the traders to transport their goods to the border without an IEC, issued against a Permanent Account Number (PAN), mandatory for conducting border trade.

Mr Chamling said direct income tax law though extended to the state but was yet to be implemented.

The state is governed by its own income tax laws.

''We have already taken up the issue with the Centre and it is up to the Central governement to decide on the IEC and PAN, '' he said.

Quoting a book on import-export, the Chief Minister said IEC or PAN was not required for any consignment not exceeding the value of Rs 25,000 in trade with Nepal and Mynamar. Mr Chamling said the present restricted trade through Nathu La would soon be opened to versatile trade. Many national and international traders would come to trade through this route.

He wanted the Sikkimese traders to chalk out strategies so as how to make their presence felt in the wake of influx of traders from outside.

Mr Chamling said though the state was included in the North Eastern Council four years back, the people had failed to take the benefits of various schemes offered by the NEC.

He wanted it not to be repeated and wanted the people to come forward to reap the benefits, extended by the reopening of the Nathu La.

Mr Chamling wanted people to open hotels, petrol pumps all along the Gangtok--Sherthang route.

He said the government had also decided to create more infrastrcture like a guest house at Sherathang, rest room and upgrade the shopping display centre to facilitate trade.

Mr Chamling wanted the people to set up manufacturing units to convert the raw materials imported from Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) of China into finished goods and assembling units for the goods to be exported to China to get maximum economic benefits. '' Our ultimate aim is to integrate trade with tourism. But now we have to ensure smooth running of trade through Nathu La for initial two to three years and make the centre believe that we are capable of conducting trade, '' he stated.

The state government, the Chief Minister said, had to initiate mechanism for the scientific disposal of garbage and develop the sewerage system as an infrastructure development for trade.

Similarly, acclimitasation station at Kyongola, upgrading of cafetaria and setting up quarntine centre was needed.

'' Setting up of a quarntine centre is our top priority and land for the construction of the centre will be allotted soon, '' he iterated.

The Chief Minister announced to start language courses in Chinese, Tibetan, Japanese to overcome the problem of communication soon.

Mr Chamling wanted police to be vigilant and to see the possible new dimensions of crime in the wake of border trade. The state would not tolerate anybody for indulging in anti-state and anti-national activities and asked the security personnel to take stern action.

UNI