Committee to monitor the border trade

Gangtok, July 17 (UNI) The Sikkim government today decided to constitute a committee to monitor border trade through the recently opened Nathu La pass 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 directions 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 departments 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.

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