Call for more border traders

RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, Aug 21, 2018, Gangtok: The Indo-China Border Traders Joint Committee stopped trading on the Nathu-la border from Monday in support of its demand for increasing the number of traders and vehicles allowed to enter the Tibetan Autonomous Region in China every trading day from the present 40 and 60, respectively, to hundred each.

Sonam Topgay, the president of the Indo-China Nathu La Border Traders Welfare Association and senior member of the joint committee, said the traders would continue with their protest till their demands were met.

"We have been raising these demands since 2015, but they have fallen on deaf ears. This time, we are determined to ensure that they are fulfilled. We have submitted a memorandum to the East district administration in this connection," he said.

About 500 traders and over 300 vehicles from Sikkim are engaged in the border trade. However, since only 40 traders and 60 vehicles are allowed to enter Tibet on every four trading days of the week, there is always a tussle between traders on the border. "Since the entry is on first come first serve basis, there is a mad rush to reach the border first. Vehicles also overtake at breakneck speed, putting at risk lives and limbs, especially since the quality of road is poor and the terrain difficult," said Topgay.

Contacted, Kapil Meena, the district collector of East Sikkim, whose office issues permits to the traders, said he would soon call a meeting of all stakeholders and resolve the matter.

"This is not the matter for the district administration to decide on its own because there other agencies like the Customs department, ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Force) and commerce and industries department, which is a nodal agency, involved. I will call a meeting within the seven-eight days to resolve the matter," he said.

Topgay, however, insisted that the demand of the traders is for the number of traders and vehicles to be increased to 100 each.

The joint committee has also demanded that the cap on the amount of money each trader is allowed to trade should be increased from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. "At present we can only export goods worth Rs 2 lakh per trader per day and import goods worth the same amount. We want this to be increased to Rs 10 lakh in order to give a boost to trade," said Topgay