Kalaichar (Meghalaya, India)

 savings bank, border, marketplace

 Upload a photo

-:Kalaichar Market Area:-

India-Bangladesh reopen border haat after four decades
A traditional border haat (market) along the Indo-Bangla border was recently reopened after four decades at Kalaichar in Meghalaya's West Garo Hills district. On July 24, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma and Bangladesh Commerce Minister Mohammad Faruk Khan, inaugurated Meghalaya's first border haat at Kalaichar. The ministers also announced that more such border haats would be opened.

Kalaichar border haat (traditional market) on the Indo-Bangladesh border of Meghalaya has generated more than Rs 33 lakh in terms of revenue, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma informed the Assembly on Wednesday.

The Chief Minister, who holds charge of Commerce and Industries, in a reply during Question Hour said, “The border haats have improved the economic condition of the people.”

“The trade (in terms of rupees) that has taken place in the Kalaichar since the opening of the international market is Rs 33,80,204,” Dr Sangma said.

Indian traders sells gingers, bay leaves, oranges, banana, pineapple, lemon, potatoes, tamarind, black pepper and aricanut, Dr Sangma said adding that molasses, brinjal, garlic, sugarcane, pillows etc were sold by traders from Bangladesh.

According to him, Indian produces are in “high demand” at the border haat.

Earlier, the leader of Opposition Conrad K Sangma stated that he was not too sure that the supervision of the SDO (Civil) would be enough to check if there is any illegal transaction in the Kalaichar border haat.

In reply, Dr Sangma said the SDO (Civil) was not the only one who is supervising trading activities in the border haat.

“In fact, there is a committee comprising the SDO (Civil) Amapti, officials of the customs department and the Border Security to oversee activities at the border haat in Kalaichar,” he said.

NEW DELHI, July 21, 2011 – Commerce Ministers of India and Bangladesh would jointly inaugurate Border Haat at Kalaichar, West Garo Hill District in Meghalaya on Saturday.
Union Commerce, Industry and Textile Minister, Anand Sharma and Commerce Minister of Bangladesh, Muhammad Faruk Khan would join Meghalaya Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma in the ceremony that is likely to be first in a series of joint projects between the two countries.

“The opening of Border Haats shall herald a new chapter of cooperation in India-Bangladesh trade. I am confident that the opening of Border Haats will make the border villages on both sides more prosperous through improved market accessibility for their locally-produced goods,” Sharma said today.

It is estimated that bilateral trade worth US$ 20 million would take place annually from the Border Haats once they are opened.

The event is being organised by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Shellac and Forest Product Promotion Council (Shefexil).

Official sources said that in addition to the Border Haats, both sides were working on several projects to improve trade infrastructure and connectivity. Initially, the Border Haats as pilot projects, are to be opened at Baliamari (Kurigram District, Bangladesh) – Kalaichar (West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, India and at Lauwaghar (Dalora) (Sunamganj District, Bangladesh) – Balat (East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, India).

The Border Management Department of Ministry of Home Affairs in India is developing seven Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) on India – Bangladesh Border at Petrapole, Agartala, Dawki, Hili, Chandrabangha, Sutarkhandi and Kawarpuchiah.

Further, India is also developing infrastructure at eight Land Custom Stations along the Indo – Bangladesh border at a cost of Rs 108.19 crore. The LCSs are Borosora, Dalu, Ghasupara, Mahadipur, Hilli, Phullbari, Srimantpur and Gojadanga. The total projected cost of all the ICPs and Land Custom Stations being developed is US$ 125 million.

New Delhi, July 22, 2011
ADVERTISEMENT
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma will jointly inaugurate a "Border Haat" (market) at Kalaichar in the West Garo Hill district of Meghalaya with his Bangladesh counterpart Muhammad Faruk Khan tomorrow.

Mr Sharma has expressed the hope that the opening of the "haats" would herald a new chapter of cooperation in India-Bangladesh trade.

"I am confident that the opening of Border Haats will make the border villages on both sides more prosperous through improved market accessibility for their locally produced goods. It is estimated that bilateral trade worth $ 20 million will take place annually from the Border Haats once they are opened. "

Dr. Mukul M. Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, will also be present on the occasion. The event is being organised by the Ministery of Commerce & Industry, Government of India and the Shellac & Forest Product Promotion Council (Shefexil).

An official press release said here that the Border Haats aim at promoting the well- being of the people dwelling in remote areas across the borders of India and Bangladesh by establishing traditional system of marketing of local produce.

The commodities traded shall be locally produced vegetables, food items, fruits, spices; minor local forest produce such as bamboo, bamboo grass, and broom stick but excluding timber; products of local cottage industries like Gamcha and Lungi ; small locally produced agriculture household implements such as dao, plough, axe, spade and chisel.; locally produced garments, melamine products, processed food items, fruit juice, and so on.

ADVERTISEMENT
The list of items allowed for trade in designated Border Haats may be expanded/ modified by mutual consent, it said.

Initially, the Border Haats as pilot projects, are to be opened at Baliamari (Kurigram District, Bangladesh )-Kalaichar (West Garo Hills, Meghalaya,India and at Lauwaghar (Dalora) (Sunamganj District,Bangladesh)-Balat (East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya,India).

In addition to the Border Haats, both sides are working on several projects to improve trade infrastructure and connectivity.

The Border Management Department of Ministry of Home Affairs in India is developing seven Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) on the India – Bangladesh border at Petrapole, Agartala, Dawki, Hili, Chandrabangha, Sutarkhandi and Kawarpuchiah.

Further, India is also developing infrastructure at eight Land Custom Stations along the Indo-Bangladesh border at a cost of Rs. 108.19 crores.

The LCSs are at Borosora, Dalu, Ghasupara, Mahadipur, Hilli, Phullbari, Srimantpur and Gojadanga.

The total projected cost of all the ICPs and Land Custom Stations being developed is $ 125 million, the release added.