Date:21/05/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/05/21/stories/2003052101111300.htm

National

Reopening of silk route to figure during PM's visit to China

By our Special Correspondent

GANGTOK MAY 20. Hoping that the issue of reopening of the trade route between India and China through the Nathula Pass in Sikkim would be taken up during the Prime Minister's proposed visit to China next month, the Sikkim Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling, said it would create employment opportunities in the State.

Talking to reporters here, Mr. Chamling said the people of Sikkim wanted the traditional trade route to be reopened as it would meet a long-pending demand of the people and help in increasing business but also facilitate tourism and pilgrimage. "I have been making this demand ever since I took over in 1995,'' he said adding that it was ultimately for the Indian and Chinese governments to take a decision.

Optimistic that the matter would come up during talks at Beijing, the Chief Minister said that he had taken up the subject with the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, during his visit to Gangtok last month, though he received no response in return. The Sikkim Government has already identified sites for establishment of warehouses between Gangtok and the Nathula Pass.

The traditional silk route is the shortest distance between India and China with the Tibetan town of Yatung being just 52 km away from Nathula, an all-weather pass situated at a height of 14,500 ft above sea level across the Himalayas. Mules were used to carry goods from the two sides earlier. The route was close after the Indo-China war in 1962 when the Indian army manned the international border of Sikkim even though it was an independent kingdom.

The route has remained closed for the past four decades since China refuses to recognise Sikkim's merger with the Indian Union in 1975. Sikkim acted as a conduit for trade between India and China and a large percentage of its people were dependent on trade for their livelihood. The possibility of opening up of this route, following improvement of relations between India and China, has generated a lot of enthusiasm among the people who feel re-establishment of business through this route would generate employment for them.

The Tibetan capital, Lhasa, is 525 km from the Nathula pass. There is a motorable road from Gangtok to Nathula pass -- a distance of about 60 km -- the road across the border is lying in a state of disuse.

The Pass is a tourist spot with hundreds of people visiting the border daily and enjoying the `pleasure' of shaking hands with the Chinese soldiers.

Criticising China for not accepting Sikkim as part of India, the Chief Minister said it amount to interference in the internal affairs of the country since Sikkim has merged with the Indian Union through a referendum.