PRESS RELEASE:
ECONOMIC BLOCADE OF SIKKIM MUST END
National Highway 31 A is the lifeline for Sikkim, the only physical connectivity available with the rest of the country. More than 250 trucks and more than 1000 passenger vehicles ply on this route everyday.
90% of the traffic on this route is Sikkim bound and only 10% goes to Kalimpong Hills.
Till now we were suffering when the road gets blocked by landslides, but now we suffer by a man made problem.
Sikkim has emotional links with the Darjeeling Hills and its people and it is helping it to achieve its aspirations in the way it is permitted within the norms of federal set up.
But the suffering put on Sikkim is too much. Non availability of cement, iron steel and building materials have already put its toll on construction works. Private building construction works have already stopped.
Industries mainly Pharma, Distilleries, tea are suffering and they have a twin problem of jammed finished products and shortage of raw materials. They have to shut down their production soon.
The marketing of ginger, flower, and horticulture have been affected. The circulation of money which is so essential for the smooth operation of trade, commerce and industry will get a shock because farmers, traders and industries exporting goods will not get their payments from importers and on the other hand supplier of goods from the plains will have to face default in payment.
Even big hydro projects will get delayed as the raw material for construction will not be flowing in. The common man is, of course, hard hit. Every Kitchen is affected.
Tourism has already started feeling the pinch with empty hotels, resorts and tour operator without work.
The cumulative effect of all these if continued for a long time will have a drastic effect on the overall economy of Sikkim. If the loss is counted in rupees it will be more than 10 crores per day. Students, officials, trader, builder, industry, farmer all suffer for their no fault.
Thus the opening of the National Highway is a must to save Sikkim and its people from the economic slowdown and suffering. This economic blockade must go.
S.K.Sarda
President
Sikkim Chamber of Commerce
Gangtok,Sikkim DT 19 JUNE 2008
No comments:
Post a Comment