Indian Traders Urge Government to Reopen Lipulekh Trade Route with China

Indian traders, particularly from the Bhotia tribe, have urged the central government to negotiate reopening the Lipulekh pass trade route with China. Closed since the 2019 Covid-19 outbreak, traders have since faced significant financial losses and uncertainty regarding the status of their goods stored in Tibet.

Indian traders involved in border trade with China through the Lipulekh pass in Pithoragarh district since 1992 are urging the central government to reopen the trade route. This route was abruptly closed following the 2019 Covid-19 outbreak, forcing traders to leave behind woollen products at the Taklakot mart in Tibet.

The Lipulekh pass has remained closed for five years, as confirmed by a border traders' organization in Dharchula. The Bhotia tribe traders amplified their demand to reopen the route after China began implementing a pact with Nepal to open all 14 trade passes recently.

Despite submitting 22 applications to the Indian government, the traders have received no response. The president of Bharat Tibetan Simant Vyapar Samiti, Jeewan Singh Rongkali, stated that lipulekh route closure led to Rs 15 lakh worth of goods being left in Taklakot and caused significant financial distress for over 450 traders since 2019.

If reopening is not possible, traders ask for 15 days to retrieve their goods. The traders heavily supplied essential goods to over 45 villages in western Tibet, contributing substantial customs and tax payments. Concern also looms that the market in Taklakot could be reassigned to Nepalese traders.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)