Thursday, July 31, 2025
spot_img

Demand for 38 border haats

Date:

Share post:

spot_imgspot_img

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG: The tribal chiefs in Meghalaya on Wednesday urged the State Government to approach the Centre to convince the Bangladesh government for early opening of at least 38 border haats for the benefit of the people residing in the border areas of the state.

“We have urged the state government to take up the matter with the Centre to speed up the opening of these haats on the southern side of the State,” Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya (GCCM) chairman John F Kharshiing said here.

Maintaining that these haats impacts the livelihood of the border residents, Kharshiing said only two border haats – one at Kalaichar in West Garo Hills and another at Balat in East Khasi Hills – were operative till date.

“More than 20,000 residents are benefited from these two haats,” he said.

Out of 38 proposed border haats, 17 are in East Khasi Hills district, 11 in South West Khasi Hills, four in South Garo Hills, three each in West Garo Hills and Jaintia Hills districts.

According to Kharshiing, the Khasi-Jaintia and Garo people inhabiting the entire stretch of 443km long Indo-Bangladesh border have been victims of partition where not only was the international border closed but also they have been denied their traditional market and route towards Sylhet and Chittagong. Urging the government to improve the infrastructure, particularly bridges, along the border, the tribal chief said these infrastructure development works would enable movement along the border as hostile terrain was a serious challenge. It may be mentioned that State government had officially pressed for opening of six more border haats and earlier, the Union Commerce Ministry had stated that Bangladesh and India have agreed to set up a number of border haats, which, if opened, are expected to witness bilateral trade worth US $20 million every year.

spot_imgspot_img

Related articles

India to face depleted Eng at the Oval for final Test

London, July 30: India’s prospects of signing off the UK tour with some serious bragging rights brightened by...

Catholic Association of Shillong calls for unconditional release of arrested nuns

Our Bureau SHILLONG/TURA, July 30: The Catholic Association of Shillong (CAS), Meghalaya, has urged Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo...

Speaker picks holes in Adelbert’s suspension letter, seeks legal opinion

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, July 30: The suspension letter issued by the Voice of the People Party (VPP) to...

KSU seeks full scholarships for PG & medical students

From Our Correspondent NONGPOH, July 30: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), North Khasi Hills district, has urged the University...