SHILLONG: The State Government seems to be in the dark about the inauguration of the second border haat at Narayantala-Balat (Sunamganj-East Khasi Hills border) since the Union Government is yet to make any announcement in this regard.
Earlier, there were reports that Meghalaya’s second border haat at Balat would be inaugurated in October. Later, the date was revised and the State Government announced, albeit unofficially, that the border haat would be inaugurated by January 15.
However, the date came and passed, but so far no tentative deadline has been fixed by the Government for the inauguration.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on Tuesday, Director of Commerce & Industries, W Langstang, said, “We are still in the dark about the inauguration of the proposed border haat at Balat.”
According to Langstang, the proposed border haat is ready for inauguration and presently the State was awaiting the Central Government’s go ahead before announcing the inauguration date.
Last year in July, the State’s first border haat was inaugurated at Kalaichar in Garo Hills jointly by the Union Commerce Ministers Anand Sharma and his Bangladesh counterpart Muhammad Faruk Khan.
Meanwhile, Langstang also informed that the Central Government has not sanctioned any fund for the border haat and the entire cost of construction had been managed by the State Government.
The upcoming border haat at Balat will have fifty stalls each from both Indian and Bangladesh side.
There has been a large demand from people residing in border areas to inaugurate similar border haats at different places since it will uplift the economic condition of the border villages.
Till 1971, residents from the border areas of then East Pakistan used to cross over to the Indian side for exchange of goods. But, after the creation of Bangladesh, the border haats were subsequently closed.
The decision to inaugurate the border haats materialized after both Bangladesh and India agreed to set up a number of these border markets which are expected to witness bilateral trade to the tune of US $20 million every year.