Old writings
NATHU LA- AFTER 6th JULY 2006
By S K Sarda*
The attention of the whole world was focused on the
reopening of the Nathu la pass - the pass for trade
between India & China- the two powerful Asian Giants .
And all eyes, be them of the Kings, Presidents, Prime
Ministers , politicians and their parties world wide
were focused on the 6th of July 2006 on Nathu La, for
the event that was going to change the history.
The two powerful giants are coming together. The cold
war is now history and we are in war of trade. Here no
more artillery power shall win. It is the
competitiveness, quality and devotion of the trade and
industry and commerce that will bring success and then
only we can win .
And finally that historic day arrived- 6th July 2006.
The world rejoiced that now peace shall prevail and
Asia will lead the torch of peace the world over. The
world will thank the great heroes who had worked hard
for that golden day .
Now Nathu la has been opened for border trade it will
finally culminate in the International trade. Five
years down the line, ships at Kolkata and Chittagong
Ports will take load of goods arrived from mainland
China through the Tibetean plateau, Nathula and then
thru the Gangetic Delta for onward shipment in the
Indian Ocean.
The rail link from Gomud to Lhasa is now being
extended to Chumbi Valley which will make the
traveling time from mainland China to Nathula to a
week..
The spiritual Hindu & Buddhist devotees of the Indian
sub continent will get a chance to have a glimpse of
Lake Mansarovar and Mt Kailas, once the route opens
for Tourism in 2011. Lacs of devotees will travel
thru Sikkim to get Moksha at the abode of Shiva at
Mansarovar. The present tourist flow of 3 lacs per
year to Sikkim will treble by 2011 leading to a new
set of economic activity and enterprises benefiting
the local populace of Sikkim.
Tibet provides a beauty of its own. A cold desert on a
plateau with scanty rains and an average height of
10,000 feet and rocky mountains and massive water
bodies provides freshness to tourists visiting this
place.
The trade thru Nathu la pass has started , though in a
small scale, but with the passage of time this will
get transformed into a massive operation. The
infrastructure development plan for the next 4 years
will bring an excellent two lane strong road between
Siliguri and Nathu La to match the finishing touches
being given by the Chinese on their side by providing
rail and road link upto Chumbi.
The entrepreneurs who remain active thru this
difficult period of trial and error will ultimately
reap the rich benefits. The route to success in this
trade is thru hardwork, competitiveness and quality
and it cannot be otherwise. The youth of Sikkim who
constitute more than 50% of the population need to
understand this and make their lifestyle accordingly
and thereby win the battle of trade and tourism. Let
us respect the value of Labour and the economy of this
Mountain State will shine for generations to come.
The present handicaps for a sustainable border trade
will be solved out in due course. The availability of
dollars from the banks for trade will have to be
lifted from $ 500 per trader to the requirements of
the trade. The IEC code should be available to
Sikkimese traders without asking for PAN. The
Extension counter of Central Food laboratory is
required to be set up at Sherathang and so an office
of CITES. The list of items which were listed for
border trade in 1992 for Shipkila and Gunzi land
customs stations in UP and Himchal have been copied
for the 2006 border trade for Nathula land custom
station. Import of Horses, Goats, Sheeps from Tibet is
now part of history and so the other items in the
import list except silk, borax and wool. This list
needs to be revised, expanded and modernized to suit
the need of the time to make trade through Nathu La
vibrant and viable. Items which come to the
subcontinent from sea ports should be allowed to be
imported through this land route also. If imports thru
sea port cannot damage our economy, what more damage
can land route do.
The plying of mini buses and mini trucks between
Gangtok and Rinchingang four days a week for four
months in a year can at best be organized by the State
only.The earlier they start plying, the better because
then even the smallest entrepreneur can participate in
the border trade. And these small entrepreneurs will
become the big traders of the future.
It is a great news that Sherathang will host a 100 bed
hotel and an l32 KVA power line will be extended to
Nathu La from Lower Lagyap.. As times passes, the
tradeline will be extended upto Yatung on the Chinese
side and Rangpo on the Indian Side. An underground
tunnel from Chumbi Valley to Singtam can also be
dreamt of which will make it an all weather route.
The modern technology can handle it..
The skill development year will go a long way in
making every Sikkimese youth equipped with the skill
of trade & enterprise. The visit of the Dutch and
Holland Consortiums and the infrastructure development
proposals of the Singapore team will make Sikkim the
richest land in India.
And finally leaders like Dr Pawan Chamling, the
visionary par excellence needs all praise. Let more
visionary be born in this land of Kanchenjunga to lead
us to the golden era.
*( S K Sarda was President of Sikkim Chamber
Of Commerce 2006-2011)
NATHU LA- AFTER 6th JULY 2006
By S K Sarda*
The attention of the whole world was focused on the
reopening of the Nathu la pass - the pass for trade
between India & China- the two powerful Asian Giants .
And all eyes, be them of the Kings, Presidents, Prime
Ministers , politicians and their parties world wide
were focused on the 6th of July 2006 on Nathu La, for
the event that was going to change the history.
The two powerful giants are coming together. The cold
war is now history and we are in war of trade. Here no
more artillery power shall win. It is the
competitiveness, quality and devotion of the trade and
industry and commerce that will bring success and then
only we can win .
And finally that historic day arrived- 6th July 2006.
The world rejoiced that now peace shall prevail and
Asia will lead the torch of peace the world over. The
world will thank the great heroes who had worked hard
for that golden day .
Now Nathu la has been opened for border trade it will
finally culminate in the International trade. Five
years down the line, ships at Kolkata and Chittagong
Ports will take load of goods arrived from mainland
China through the Tibetean plateau, Nathula and then
thru the Gangetic Delta for onward shipment in the
Indian Ocean.
The rail link from Gomud to Lhasa is now being
extended to Chumbi Valley which will make the
traveling time from mainland China to Nathula to a
week..
The spiritual Hindu & Buddhist devotees of the Indian
sub continent will get a chance to have a glimpse of
Lake Mansarovar and Mt Kailas, once the route opens
for Tourism in 2011. Lacs of devotees will travel
thru Sikkim to get Moksha at the abode of Shiva at
Mansarovar. The present tourist flow of 3 lacs per
year to Sikkim will treble by 2011 leading to a new
set of economic activity and enterprises benefiting
the local populace of Sikkim.
Tibet provides a beauty of its own. A cold desert on a
plateau with scanty rains and an average height of
10,000 feet and rocky mountains and massive water
bodies provides freshness to tourists visiting this
place.
The trade thru Nathu la pass has started , though in a
small scale, but with the passage of time this will
get transformed into a massive operation. The
infrastructure development plan for the next 4 years
will bring an excellent two lane strong road between
Siliguri and Nathu La to match the finishing touches
being given by the Chinese on their side by providing
rail and road link upto Chumbi.
The entrepreneurs who remain active thru this
difficult period of trial and error will ultimately
reap the rich benefits. The route to success in this
trade is thru hardwork, competitiveness and quality
and it cannot be otherwise. The youth of Sikkim who
constitute more than 50% of the population need to
understand this and make their lifestyle accordingly
and thereby win the battle of trade and tourism. Let
us respect the value of Labour and the economy of this
Mountain State will shine for generations to come.
The present handicaps for a sustainable border trade
will be solved out in due course. The availability of
dollars from the banks for trade will have to be
lifted from $ 500 per trader to the requirements of
the trade. The IEC code should be available to
Sikkimese traders without asking for PAN. The
Extension counter of Central Food laboratory is
required to be set up at Sherathang and so an office
of CITES. The list of items which were listed for
border trade in 1992 for Shipkila and Gunzi land
customs stations in UP and Himchal have been copied
for the 2006 border trade for Nathula land custom
station. Import of Horses, Goats, Sheeps from Tibet is
now part of history and so the other items in the
import list except silk, borax and wool. This list
needs to be revised, expanded and modernized to suit
the need of the time to make trade through Nathu La
vibrant and viable. Items which come to the
subcontinent from sea ports should be allowed to be
imported through this land route also. If imports thru
sea port cannot damage our economy, what more damage
can land route do.
The plying of mini buses and mini trucks between
Gangtok and Rinchingang four days a week for four
months in a year can at best be organized by the State
only.The earlier they start plying, the better because
then even the smallest entrepreneur can participate in
the border trade. And these small entrepreneurs will
become the big traders of the future.
It is a great news that Sherathang will host a 100 bed
hotel and an l32 KVA power line will be extended to
Nathu La from Lower Lagyap.. As times passes, the
tradeline will be extended upto Yatung on the Chinese
side and Rangpo on the Indian Side. An underground
tunnel from Chumbi Valley to Singtam can also be
dreamt of which will make it an all weather route.
The modern technology can handle it..
The skill development year will go a long way in
making every Sikkimese youth equipped with the skill
of trade & enterprise. The visit of the Dutch and
Holland Consortiums and the infrastructure development
proposals of the Singapore team will make Sikkim the
richest land in India.
And finally leaders like Dr Pawan Chamling, the
visionary par excellence needs all praise. Let more
visionary be born in this land of Kanchenjunga to lead
us to the golden era.
*( S K Sarda was President of Sikkim Chamber
Of Commerce 2006-2011)
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