State's nudge helps to resolve border stalemate with B'desh

Kolkata: With desperate efforts of the state government, truck movement across India-Bangladesh border through Petrapole Integrated Check Post is going to resume soon as was expected..

Sources said that the process of preparing a standard operating procedure following which the movement of trucks will resume has begun and it would be in place soon based on which the operation at the integrated check post would begin. Petrapole integrated check post is the most crucial one through which 70 percent of the Indo-Bangla trade takes place.

After remaining suspended for a long period of time in the wake of COVID-19, the operation resumed at the integrated check post on June 7. Though the movement of trucks had started with around 24 on a day, but later the number went up to 250 a day.

The movement of trucks has stopped from July 1 as clearing and forwarding agents at Benapole in Bangladesh have demanded permission to allow export their goods to India and at present around 1700 trucks are stranded at the Indian side of the checkpost.

Like economic situation turning grimmer for all other sectors due to the nationwide lockdown to check the spread of COVID-19, the bilateral trade with Bangladesh has witnessed a drop to Rs 3166 crore (424 million US dollar) in April-May that was usually Rs 14,935 crore (2 billion US dollar) .for the corresponding months in 2019.

The situation would improve with the step that is being taken up by the state government to resume the facility. Sources said that already there are moves at the check post to ensure health screening of drivers. A particular zone has been identified where trucks will have to be parked for sanitisation and health screening of drivers and helpers.

Sources said that the state government is taking all steps giving utmost priority to the situation and at the same time the moves are being taken with consideration that it should not lead to an increase in COVID-19 cases in the area.

The truck service from June 7 had started only after taking the local populace into confidence as they had agitated considering the initiation of the truck movement would lead to more people getting infected to the disease.