FOCIN concerned over Siligurl trade slump

SNS, SILIGUR1, 25 JULY 2017 : The Federation Siliguri subdivision will take a slump further if the indefinite shutdown in the Hills continues.

Siliguri and nearby markets, including that of Bagdogra and Naxalbari, rely basically on the Hills, comprising Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Gangtok in Sikkim mid part of the Don are for good business. Given the strike called in support for a separate state of Gorkhaland. People of those areas are not coming down to Siliguri for their daily needs.

Though the police have been asked to escort vehicles on National highway 10, people from Sikkim are trying to avoid attacks following a series of untoward incidents that occurred in Siliguri and adjoining areas.

Sources also said that the Nepali speaking people from them Dooars areas like Mal-bazaar sub-division in Jaipaiguri district and in Alipurduar district are also not going to Siliguri due to many reasons.

Asked to comment, FOCIN secretary Biswajit Das said the traders will face a ''a grave situation" if the strike continues. According to him, the turnover of all the markets in Siliguri is over Rs 12 crore per day. 'Ad present 75 per cent of that turnover has gone down,' he said.

On the other sectors like transportation, around 5,000 people, including labourers, have been affected badly, sources have said.