‘Construction work on in full swing’
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The proposed second border haat at Balat is likely to be opened by October to further boost the bilateral ties between the two neighbouring countries, which has been on a high since the opening of the border haat at Kalaichar in West Garo Hill in July.
It is learnt that the decision to open the State’s second border haat at Balat in October was taken by the Ministry of Commerce along with the Bangladeshi counterpart. However, sources maintained that tentative date for the inauguration is yet to be fixed.
Sources from the State Industries department said the construction work for the upcoming border haat is going on in full swing.
The first border haat at Kalaichar in West Garo Hills was inaugurated on July 23 jointly by Union Commerce and Industries Minister Anand Sharma and his Bangladesh counterpart Muhammad Faruk Khan.
The estimated budget of the upcoming border haat at Balat is around Rs 1.5 crore as land acquisition and development has escalated the earlier estimated budget of the border haat.
“The ground level of the border haat has to be increased till 9 feet as the area is flood prone,” sources said here on condition of anonymity.
These border haats would focus on importance of economic and commercial ties between the people living on either side of the borders besides an estimated bilateral trade worth USD 20 million will take place annually at these haats, sources added.
The proposed border haat at Balat will have around fifty stalls comprising of twenty-five stalls each from India and Bangladesh.
The trade in the haat would normally focus on locally-produced vegetables, food items, fruits, spices, minor local forest produce like bamboo, bamboo grass, cottage items like ploughs, axes, spades, chisels and locally-produced garments.