While the neighbouring country China is riding on the state-of-the-art high speed train along the opposite side of the border, traders are risking their lives to cross the mighty Mahakali river and its tributaries at a few places on the tougher Himalayan terrain in Pithoragarh to transport their goods to Tibetan market with the help of labourers, with India giving its nod now to start the India-Tibet border trade.
It is also to note that since there is no road after Tawaghat, the traders have to traverse the entire Himalayan region by foot upto Tibet, transporting the goods with the help of labourers. The aforesaid trade had to be started from June 1. But on account of adverse weather conditions the Government had to suspend the commencement of this trade. Though weather conditions have improved a bit now, road conditions continue to become grim on way to Tibet.
The road are in poor condition in upper Himalayan region towards Tibet. The traders are crossing the Mahakali river at Tawaghat with the help of trolleys and similar conditions have emerged at Elaghat where the traders and other visitors have also to cross a local river with the help of trolleys, said PS Kutiyal, Assistant Trade Officer, India-Tibet border trade, while talking to The Pioneer. As many as 42 trade passes ( to 18 traders and 24 labourers) have been issued so far, Kutiyal further said.
A total of about 740 traders and labourers are likely to visit Tibet to sell their goods this season, as the officials concerned informed. However, the poor condition of trade route which has to be travelled by foot is still one of the major worrying factors for the officials concerned. The route is badly damaged in many places due to landslides caused by heavy rain.
Apart from poor road conditions, damage to goods like jaggery, mishri to be exported to Tibet is reported to be huge as the goods remained dumped at different places including Gunji on way to Tibet for long due to delay in commencement of the aforesaid trade. It is worth mentioning that Gunji, which is the last human settlement in the Indian side, serves as the main mandi for the traders of the India- Tibet border trade. Therefore, the traders expecting timely commencement of the trade had stored their goods at the Gunji trade centre in advance. After Tawaghat the important destinations of this trade route include Pangu, Narayan Ashram, Sirkha, Gala, Bundi, Gunji, Nabhidhang, lipupass and Takulakot.
The interesting fact about this ancient border trade is that lifestyle including food habits may have changed both side of the border significantly, but many things like jaggery, mishri, tobacco to name a few that used to be exported to Tibet in ancient times are still popular in Tibet, while apart from Tibetan wool, silk and readymade garments are being imported here from Tibet.