SSB to establish trade centres along borders

Prashant acharya, EOI, MADANJOTE, 14 Jun 2014: In an effort to stop smuggling activities along the Indo-Nepal border and also to build better ties, the Sasahastra Seema Bal has proposed to the governments of the two countries to establish trade centres along the border.

About 25 traditional markets established along the international border running across Bihar and Bengal are to be modernised under the plan where traders from both India and Nepal can buy and sell daily household items in an unrestricted manner.

SSB DIG (Ranidanga sector) AK Mallick said, “The proposal was sent a year ago to the governments of the two nations and once we get their green signal, we will complete all necessary work within two years.”

He also said vigilance cameras and CCTVs will be installed to monitor activities in the markets. Smuggling activities will definitely decline drastically once the trade centres gets running, said the DIG with confidence. Mallick also noted the proposal has been made keeping in the mind the undue harassment people from both sides of the border face whenever they venture into each other’s territories to shop.

“Smuggling is not a means of employment; it weakens the financial stability of a country,” said Mallick, while speaking to media persons from the two nations on the sidelines of a management seminar organised by the SSB 41st Battalion at Madanjote.

When asked as to why the SSB has taken up an initiative that should be shouldered by the government, he said sardonically, “You must have seen what the government has done in the last 72 years to develop the areas along the Indo-Nepal border.

Meanwhile, LN Khanal, a senior officer with the Nepal Armed Police, expressed happiness at SSB’s the move. Once such markets get operating, smuggling of betel nuts, electronic items and other goods will come to an end, he said, adding, “The Nepal Armed Police have always being supportive towards the people and security forces of India in every possible way.

Media persons present also agreed to form a border journalist organisation for sharing news items and exchanging viewpoints.