COPTAM bandh cripples border trade
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 26 2011:
The ongoing 60 hours bandh being imposed by Committee on Protection of Tribal Areas of Manipur (COPTAM) in the hill districts has severely affected export-import trade through Moreh.
Due to the bandh, not only Moreh town, Namphalong market located just beyond Moreh Gate No II has been paralysed.
A media team which visited the border town today witnessed the impact of the bandh on trans-border trade through Moreh.
The land custom station where goods imported through Moreh Gate No I from Myanmar are taxed was seen totally inactive and paralysed.
Generally, goods consignments included in the list of import-export items are given transit pass at the land custom station after levying tax of 2 per cent which should be paid at the Taxation office located near UBI office.
But with import-export trade literally coming to a standstill, the custom station has not been earning any revenue for the last two days.
The Namphalong market, which is a popular market for Indian customers wore a deserted look as no customers came from Imphal.
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With no customers coming to the market, most of the shops remained closed.
Police check gates located at Moreh, Tengnoupal and Pallel remained idle all day long.
No vehicle was seen plying on Pallel-Moreh road.
Speaking to the visiting media team at Hill Tribal Council office, COPTAM Moreh secretary Khup Gangte said that they would support any further course of action adopted by COPTAM in the event of failure on the part of the Government to come up with a positive response before the ongoing bandh ends.
Maintaining that the demands of COPTAM are all justified, he cautioned that the hill-valley relation may be affected if the Government refuses to understand the wishes of hill people.