KOLKATA: A September-enddeadline has been fixedfor setting up temporary infrastructure in Nathu La in eastern Sikkim for resumption of trade between India and China along the pass. The trade route was closed after the 1962 Sino-Indian conflict.

This decision was taken at a recent meeting in New Delhi between officials of the ministries concerned and a Sikkim delegation led by Chief Secretary N. D. Chingapa. Union Cabinet Secretary B. K. Chaturvedi presided.

A senior delegation member told The Hindu over telephone from Gangtok that the Sikkim Government was hopeful of trade beginning "anytime in October provided there is no interruption to the construction work in the form of natural calamities or fund constraints."

The delegation gave the Central officials a tentative estimate for Rs. 2,122 crores for the infrastructure project. It includes widening of roads; water and power facilities and construction of a "trade mart," which entails re-modelling of 19 barracks at Sherathang, at an altitude of nearly 13,000 feet, about seven km from Nathu La.

RITES recommendations

"A team from Rail India Technical and Economic Services Limited [RITES], which visited Nathu La pass and adjoining areas to assess the field reality last week, will be submitting its recommendations for the release of funds to the Ministry of Commerce of Industries within a fortnight," Sikkim Commerce and Industries Director S. P. Subba, said. RITES was appointed consultant to assess the infrastructure requirements and cost.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police will oversee security arrangements in the trade mart area.

The construction of a compound and corridor fencing along the seven-km pass comes under the purview of the Defence Ministry.

The Sikkim Government has called a meeting of the local business community for August 1 to identify items for trade.

"We will also be requesting permission from the Ministry of External Affairs for a team of officials and local businessmen to visit the other side of the border and check the preparations there — some of which could be replicated here — for the re-opening the trade route," Mr. Subba said.

Initially the transactions will be confined to Chinese and Sikkim traders.

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