PIONEEREDGE NEWS SERVICE/Haldwani
The India-Tibet border trade is about to resume within a couple of days after a gap of six years. The trade will be carried out through the historical Lipulekh trade route in Pithoragarh district. The trade which had been stopped during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019 is set to resume this week. According to officials, a major change has been made in the trade this year. For the first time, the Indian traders will be able to take their goods to the Indo-Tibet trade point in the border area, after which they will have to cover only two kilometres on foot to reach the area under Chinese control. The traders are of the view that this arrangement will save time, labour and cost while making the trade more convenient.
Pithoragarh district magistrate Ashish Kumar Bhatgain informed that the Ministry of External Affairs has issued the necessary trade permits for the India-Tibet trade. These permits are being distributed among the traders and their assistants. The district administration has completed all necessary arrangements for the border trade with the trade office, customs office and other facilities having been set up.
Dharchula sub divisional magistrate and trade officer Ashish Joshi informed that the trade office in Dharchula was formally inaugurated on Monday. He told the traders that the administration is available to resolve issues faced by the traders. Applications from 10 traders were received in the office on the first day and these are being processed, he said. The Lipulekh trade route has been the basis of major economic activity for residents of Vyas, Darma and Chaundas valleys. The commodities traded through this route include salt from Tibet, wool, woollen blankets from the other side and agricultural produce and daily utility items from this side. This year, India traders will take jaggery, sugar candy (Mishri), match boxes, food items and other essential commodities to Tibet while bringing back wool, woollen blankets and other products from there.
The local Vyapar Sangh secretary Daulat Singh Raipa said that all the traders are grateful for the support of the district administration and the government. The traders are hopeful that the resumption of trade would result in breaking past records.
