news details |
|
|
| PM may launch trucks | | Cross-LoC: Traders looking for answers as modalities not known | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Sept 26: Hectic preparations are underway for rolling out truck service across Line of Control but traders, particularly in Jammu, are still looking for answers on the whole mechanism to be followed on the Cross-LoC trade.
Highly places sources told EARLY TIMES that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may launch the truck service on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route on April 21. When contacted, the top government officials refused to confirm but sources maintained that Prime Minister will be in J&K on October 21. Prime Minister is also likely to inaugurate the Baglihar hydro-electric project and this may be done on the same day, said the sources.
Sources said that trucks will run on the cross-LoC routes once every week and Tuesday has been fixed for Poonch-Rawalakote sector and Wednesday for Srinagar-Muzaffarabad sector. The first service on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad sector will however run on Tuesday, October 21.
Amidst the LoC trade buzz, the traders are confused about the modalities and mechanism of trade to be conducted with their counterparts on other side of Line of Control. There is also uncertainty about the mode of payments. There is also still no information about the contact persons for getting information on the whole affair. The Government had already designated the department of Industries and Commerce for nodal agency for Cross-LoC trade but the department is yet to come up with rules and modalities.
“We are ready to supply goods but have knowledge about who should be contacted to get enlisted”, said a trader in Kanak Mandi who deals in Basmati Rice. He added, “the major issue is about the mode of payments…which currency and on which rate we will be getting paid for the commodities supplied to other side”.
When contacted, a senior official in the department of Industries and Commerce told EARLY TIMES that all these things will decided when trade delegation from Pakistan occupied Kashmir arrives in Jammu and Kashmir. “All these things will be made known to the local traders once get mind of the traders on other side of divide”, said the official.
Arrangements are meanwhile being taken on war-footing to place all facilities in place before the deadline. While road construction and other infrastructural facilities are reportedly in full order at the crossing point on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route while in case of Poonch real preparations have began only now.
Sources said
"Cross-LoC trade will commence on Poonch-Rawalakote road on October 28. Work has begun in this direction on a war-footing and an LoC trade centre, including truck terminal and godowns, in Poonch border district is being constructed," Deputy Commissioner, Poonch Mohammad Afzal Bhat said.
The LoC trade will start between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on October 21 via Uri-Muzaffarabad road in the Kashmir valley.
He said that the trade centre would be completed in a fortnight and all agencies were working overtime to complete it before the commencement of LoC trade.
The centre, which is coming up at Rangar, near the Chakan-da-Bagh crossing point on the Line of Control (LoC), will have truck terminal, godowns, custom and immigration offices, scanning chambers with x-ray machines, weighing bridge and security posts.
"The government had sanctioned Rs 19 crore for development of infrastructure for cross-LoC trade at Rangar.
The first phase of infrastructure will be ready maximum by October 15 at a cost of Rs 4.25 crore," he said, adding although "we have very short time, we will complete it by the deadline before the start of the trade". |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
