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| More economy, less politics in Interlocutors' report | | Suggests settlement across LoC | | ET Report
jammu, Apr 13: Stressing need for settlement of Jammu Kashmir dispute on both sides of the LoC, the report submitted by New Delhi's nominated interlocutors to the Union Home Ministry has three measures for normalization of relations between the erstwhile Princely state.
A three member team headed by noted journalist Dileep Padgoanker was appointed following the 2010 unrest to address the grievances of the people. The team submitted its report last October to the Union Home Minister. It has neither been made public till date nor considered by the Home Minister.
According to the report ensuring the same quantum of political, economic and cultural freedoms obtained in all parts of the erstwhile princely
State; expansion of trade and travel; and resolution of the water-sharing issue could pave way for a settlement.
The report while appreciating the difference in Pakistan administered Kashmir , the report points to lack of autonomy and Northern Areas. The report makes a mention of reforms on economic, political and social fronts. The report, however, hails the 2009 Gilgit-Baltistan reforms package. The report refers to Prime Minister's working groups on easing trade and travel across LoC. The report also makes a mention of memoranda received by the team of interlocutors from traders' associations and from travellers on the bureaucratic difficulties in promoting trade and travel. "The permit procedures are extremely cumbersome, so much so that the buses often run at 10 to 20 per cent capacity. Trade has remained on a primitive barter basis, ironically in a world where money travels more easily than people or goods."
The memoranda , according to the report, recommend opening of all routes across the LoC, such as Jhangani-Mirpur, Mendhar-Kotli, Jammu-Sialkot, Skardu-Kargil, Turtuk-Khapulu, Chamb-Nonian to Mirpur (across Munawar-Tawi), Gurez-Astoor-Gilgit and Titwal-Chilham (across the Neelam Valley), and to ease travel procedures. Suggesting measures to ease travel, it (report) has recommended issue of permits on Permanent Resident Certificate; completion of security clearance within a maximum period of 30 working days; provision of multiple entry-exit permits valid for one year; and permission to relatives to see off or receive travellers at the border post.
On the business front, the report further suggets trade fairs, annual or biannual haats or market fairs could be held between the check points on both sides of the LoC. The list of export and import items should be enlarged regardless of their provenance and without any restrictions on the quantity of traded goods. Customs duties should be exempted on a reciprocal basis for a period of three years.
The report suggests swift customs check especially for perishable items, use of scanners to clear trucks and allowing the trucks to go directly to their destinations.
The report also recommends the setting up of consultative committees with members from each legislature on both sides, along with experts, to facilitate activities in areas such as agriculture, environment protection, tourism, exchange visits, and medical relief measures during epidemics and natural disasters. The reports suggests convergence of water potential. Appreciating the lossess caused by the Indus Water , the report recommends making the Treaty more effective. Other measures on water include conservation of the Indus Basin. |
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