Nathu La to be developed as Land Custom Station

Gangtok, Jul 23: The Centre has been recommended by the Task Force of National Planning Commission to develop Nathu La as a Land Custom Station (LCS) for facilitating normal trade links between India and China.

Presently, border trade for only 44 items is being allowed through Nathu La between Sikkim and Tibet Autonomous Region according to the bilateral agreement.

The Task Force of Planning Commission appointed by the Prime Minister had recommended recognition of Nathu La border trade as Recognized Land Custom Station for normal trade, special envoy of Prime Minister and former foreign secretary Shyam Saran said today.

The objective is to make this point as a normal trade point between the two countries for increasing the volume of trade, he added.

Meanwhile, 24 items had been identified by the Centre to be added in the interim period for Nathu La border trade.

Expansion of list was being discussed with China and the long term goal was to develop Nathu La as Land Custom Station, Mr Saran said.

The Planning Commission had also recommended to initiate talks with China to expand the border trade beyond the existing time period.

Presently, Nathu La border trade is from May to September. The idea is to have trade even during the winters, Mr Saran said.

Highlighting Nathu La border trade reopening on July 6 last year as a positive development between India and China, the special envoy said that both sides were keenly observing how the trade would develop in near future.

Once the trade became beneficial to both sides, other demands like bus services from Gangtok to Lhasa and opening tourism for Kailash Mansarovar Lake would become a reality, Mr Saran said.

UNI