Sino Indian trade through Nathula

Sino Indian trade through Nathula to get stalled

.SILIGURI/ GANGTOK: In addition to tourism sector, Indian traders, operating through Sino-Indian trade route in Sikkim have become major victim of the continuous and numerous landslides devastated communication to the snow clad high altitude road to Nathula trade point.

Traders have decided to stop operating through the road and eventually that has indirectly refueled the old issue of reopening of largely forgotten Sino Indian trade route through Jelep-La via Kalimpong in West Bengal.

"After shattered winter season following the devastating landslide in 18th September 2011, we had good footfall in Sikkim this summer. But frequent and numerous landslide in the road to Nathula at 14,450 ft altitude, one of the most important attractions of Sikkim, remained a major hindrance," said Mr. R. Basu, Advisor, Eastern Himalyan Tour and Travel Operators Association.

"Now victim of the situation, traders from Sikkim's capital Gangtok are accessing the trade point after traveling for 8 hours through alternative route instead of a 2 and half hours travel through usual route. But this cannot continue for long and we will stop trading," said Mr. Lakpa Sherpa, General Secretary, Nathula Trader's Welfare Association.

"The earthquake has loosened top soil in this entire region thus greatly increased its landslide propensity. Now there are over 100 landslide zones in 56 km long Gangtok-Nathula road alone. Even if opened by a day or two, we do not know how long we can keep it trouble free," said Brigadier Rajiv Sawhney, Chief engineer, Border Road Organization, an Indian Army wing that looks after the road.

At this juncture, "Reopening of Jelep La is the permanent answer to maintain trade," said octogenarian traders who used to access Tibet through the route in late fifties.

Based upon a proposal in this line, Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry urged Government of West Bengal to submit a report. Subsequently, "Following state Government's request, CII has prepared and submitted the report strongly advocating in favour of the proposal," said Ms. L. Kaushal, Secretary, CII NB Chapter.

Jelep-La(14,300 ft) the best accessible Indian path to the silk route through India-Bhutan-Tibet tri-junction was on use for centuries by Indo-Tibetan traders to transport wool, musk, yak tails, skins, spices, gold, tobacco, silk or cotton - till 1962 Sino-Indian war when it was closed.

25 Jul, 2012, 07.06PM IST,by Debasis SarkarDebasis Sarkar,ET Bureau