Snow stalls Border Trade

GANGTOK, 03 May: The seventh edition of Border Trade over Nathula which was slated to open on 01 May has been stalled due to inclement weather and heavy snowfall which has blocked the road beyond the trade mart at Sherathang, making Nathula, hence Tibet inaccessible.
As usual, the Nathula traders, officials from the central government agencies, the Commerce & Industries Department, Customs and Immigration officials and other stakeholders had left for Nathula on 01 May, but could not move beyond Sherathang as the road was fully covered with heavy snow, informed BK Kharel [Secretary, Commerce and Industries Department], while speaking to NOW! over the phone today.
As there was no question of trade to commence, the Sherathang Trade Association, stakeholders and the officials present held a meeting at Sherathang to discuss on the said matter, he informed, adding that the army has been advised to work on the reopening of the road as soon as possible, but that would only be possible after the snow melts.
It has been snowing every evening in the upper regions beyond Gangtok towards Nathula for the past fortnight. “It will take at least two weeks for normalcy to be restored and once the roads are cleared only then will we be resuming the trading,” said Mr Kharel, pointing out that it was also necessary for the Immigration and Customs officials to be present at the pass during the trade.
“As of now it is not possible for trade to take place as the roads are closed from both sides, but once everything has been worked out we will take the necessary steps for resumption of normal trade,” he added.
Meanwhile, speaking to NOW! one of the traders confirmed that the traders along with the officials had gone up on 01 May to begin trade with their counterparts from Tibet, but could not proceed beyond Sherathang as the road was covered with snow and was closed upto Nathula. Even the road beyond Nathula in Tibet is closed due to snow, he added.
He rued the fact that this being International Trade between two countries, the Government of India and the Commerce & Industries Department officials knew about the opening but did nothing about the road condition.
“The officials knew that border trade starts on 01 May, then why did they not take any action regarding the roads earlier?” he questioned and added that the army and the BRO were not the only ones to be blamed for bad road conditions as the Department officials were also aware that BRO was carrying out back cutting on the Nathula road.
“It is because of this attitude and slackness shown by the officials that there has been no enthusaism and ‘josh’ shown by the traders on this side of the border for the past six years since the border trade started,” he commented.
“We have written to the Indian government officials and also to the Commerce & Industries Department regarding the closure of the road and are awaiting their response on the issue”, he said and added that it would take atleast 20 days to clear the roads.