Moreh traders lament bad law and order

Sources: Imphal Free Press

Due to continuous distrubances and violent activities by various insurgent groups operating in the Indo-Myanmar border since last many years, the existing border trade between traders in India and Myanyar has been gradually decreasing in volume.

Many traders from Myanmar have started trading with Mizoram and by sea route system to Kolkuta, Tamil Nadu and others part of country said an official of the Border Trade Chamber of Commerce Moreh Secretary Surendra Singh Patheja, during an exclusive meeting with IFP.

Mentioning the reason Patheja said that the state law and order condition is the major deterrant faced by the traders. Business from India and Myanmar are afraid to come to the Trade Centre at Moreh.

He further said the business communities of Moreh are frightened today, adding if the present condition does not improve trade between Myanmar and India at Moreh might shift to Mizoram, and to the sea route.

He also said some of the businessmen who used to trade at Moreh had already shifted to Mizoram.

He further said that the state government seems to be ignoring Moreh.

The irregular mobile networks and landline communication systems and bad electric power supply at Moreh are today hampering smooth functioninf of their businesses, he said.

In particular the bad condition of National Highway 39 road between Pallel and Moreh is a major impediment he added.

The state government had earlier inaugurated a ware house and a weighing bridge, but they are lying virtually unused. If the government does not take any timely steps, Moreh is might become a deserted township soon, he said.

He further revealed that the cevelopment work claimed by the state government also exist only on paper and not on the ground.

Though the business communities of Moreh submitted lots of memorandum requesting various developments to facilitate business in Moreh such as LC system (cash systems), testing laboratory etc, none has been paid heed to.

The Tamil Sangam Moreh General Secretary Ravichandran also said the business before the Government of India announced the Indo Myanmar Border Trade Centre in 1995 at Moreh, was smooth and Moreh developed a lot.

Unfortunately the business has started decreasing in volume after the announcement, he lamented.

He also added that after the MoU between the Governement of India and Myanmar in 2008 the agreement was for transactions of 40 items. However till today about 18 items are yet to be implemented, he said.

At present some of the legal items exported from India are “Ata, Moida, Soyabean, Jeera etc”.

The Tamil Sangam G.S pointed out to the state government that countries China are today playing a decisive policy in determining the fate of trade at Moreh.

If this is not timely considered Moreh Trade Centre might have to shut down in near the future.

He further mentioned that lots of contradictions are faced by Indian businessmen during transaction of goods due to regular change of security persons in check post in Myanmar side.

He said the Myanmar securities understand business less, as the country is a militaru dictatorship.

About the National Highway 39 Tamil Sangam General Secretary said that state government today needs to implement the National Highway security act in the interest of businessmen of the state, for the development of state as well for Northeast Region economy and also said that due lots of check post on NH-39 in between Pallel to Moreh several disturbances were faced and the bad condition of the road made unnecessary delays in goods and passenger transportation he added.

It may be mentioned that a Mizoram official team had also recently visited the Moreh and inspected the condition of the trade system between India and Myanmar.

The Thai Ambassador Tharador also visited Manipur during the Tourism Festival in Imphal.