The Hindu Business Line : Nathula: Local traders seek revision of obsolete list of items

Gangtok, Sept. 19 The non-fulfilment of assurances given by the Centre to revise the obsolete list of items for trade through Nathula has led local traders here to launch a protest. Led by the Indo-China Traders Association of Sikkim (ICTAS), the traders did not take part in the trade for three days—on September 13, 17 and 18.

Talking to Business Line, Mr Anil Kumar Gupta, General Secretary, ICTAS, said that the decision was prompted by a lack of concern shown by the authorities towards improving trading through Nathula.

“One of our major demands has been the immediate revision of the present list of items, which is proving to be the biggest hurdle in the trade. Despite assurances from the Central Government, including the Union Minister of State for Commerce, Mr Jairam Ramesh, and the State Government, nothing has been done so far,” Mr Gupta said.

The present list of items for import-export is virtually redundant and is based on trading that took place 44 years ago. “Items like yak skin and tail, sheep and horses does not make business sense any more. There is no demand for most of the items listed for import. We are totally handicapped and the volume of trade has been dismally low since the reopening of Nathula in June this year,” he said.

“Both Indian as well as Chinese traders are suffering because of this hurdle,” he added. The unrealistic items for trade had even prompted Beijing to ask the Indian Government to review the list earlier this year.

Mr Gupta said that the representatives of the association met the District Collector, East and the Secretary of the Industries Department here today to discuss their grievances.

Apart from the immediate revision of the trade-items list, the traders are also demanding better infrastructure like accommodation for Chinese traders at the Sherathang Trade Mart, and extension of vehicle permits to Nathula for at least a month at a stretch. Currently, vehicle permits are given only for a week and they have to be renewed on a weekly basis.

The traders have also alleged harassment at the hands of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel at Nathula, who escort the traders between Sherathang and Nathula.

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