Indo-China border trade likely to be extended

ALMORA: The Indo-China border trade through Lipulekh Pass in Pithoragarh district could be extended to its usual date of October 31, officials said.
Earlier this month, the officials had announced that the trade would close on October 15 due to prediction of bad weather and snow. So all the traders and helpers were asked to return from Taklakot mandi in Tibet to Indian territory by October 15.
But, sources said the decision was mainly taken because India and China do not share good diplomatic relations at present.
However, traders, helpers, pony owners and porters protested against the decision saying that they would incur heavy losses if the trade closes two weeks before its usual closing date.
Traders said it wouldn’t be possible to sell all their products by October 15. “We haven’t sold out all our products from India. Moreover, we are going to exchange goods with Tibetan traders. If the trade closes early, they wouldn’t sell us many items like woolen clothes, which arrive at Taklakot only at the end of October”, said, Krishna Nabiyal, a trader.
The move is also going to hit the porters and pony owners. “Porters and pony owners travel up and down Dharchula and Taklakot market many times through the five-month border trade. If the border trade closes early, their business would also be affected”, said Jagat Martoliya, president of Uttarakhand Pony Porters’ Union.
Moreover, the traders said unlike other years, this year, the weather is clear without any snowfall, which also doesn’t explain early closing of the trade.
The traders and porters have already voiced their concerns to government officials. “Well, yes, there were protests by traders. We are looking into them. And, if the central government agrees, the date could be extended to October 31”, said P S Kutiyal, the Indo-China border trade officer.
This year, a total of 77 traders and 118 helpers have participated in the trade. Till October 4, 2016, the import was Rs 5,93,5049 while the export was Rs 38,686,007.
The ancient trade route at the 17,500-foot-high Lipulekh Pass was resumed in 1992 and is open to traders in the first week of June. The trade is scheduled to complete by September 30, but every year the Centre extends it till the end of October.