Despite passes, HP traders on Sino-India border await govt nod
: The ongoing standoff between India and China at Doklam has taken a toll on the Sino-India cross-border trade in Himachal Pradesh.
The cross-border trade that generally starts at the end of June every year, is yet to commence.
The local administration has asked 52 traders to wait for the central government’s nod, even though they have been issued trading passes.Trade between the two countries is carried out through the Shipki pass in Kinnaur district. Of the 86 traders who applied for the passes, 52 have been given security clearance.
“Passes have been allotted to some traders but we are yet to receive directions on allowing them to carry the cross-border trade,” said Rajiv Verma, tehsildhar of Pooh.Meanwhile, the delay in clearance has left traders worried. “Traders are waiting for the government’s nod. There is no clarity so far,” said Hishey Negi, president of Kinnaur IndoChina Trade Association.
“We don't want to take any risk. Traders and mule owners are apprehensive to travel to the zero point ,” said Ishwar Negi, a resident of Tashi Gang village along the Sino-India border.
PERMIT PROCESS
Traders apply for passes at the tehsildhar’s office in Pooh. These are then scrutinised by central agencies. Once applications are cleared, traders travel to Namgya, and then to the border village of Chuppan.
Once here, they then head to the zero point on the international border. A six-hour trek takes them to Shipki, a village in China-controlled Tibetan Autonomous Region.
HISTORY OF TRADE
Trade through the Shipki pass commenced in 1994 after India and China signed a treaty.
Traders have been repeatedly urging the Centre to create more facilities at the Namgya trading point in India.
Traditionally, the trade was carried out under the barter system.
In 2013, the Centre expanded the trading list which enhanced the trade’s volume and the crossborder trade recorded a turnover of ₹7.32 crore. Trade was at its peak in 2015 when the turnover exceeded ₹9.38 crore.