Imphal, February 20, 2010: In a major setback to the State Government's effort to boost cross-border trade through Moreh, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has conveyed strong reservation against making Moreh Gate No II an authorised trade route between India and Myanmar.

According to a well placed source, the State Government has been lobbying with the Ministry of Home Affairs to identity Moreh Gate No II which connects Moreh to Namphalong in Myanmar as an authorised trade route in the belief that this would prove a big impetus to the cross border trade.

However, the Customs Preventive Force Superintendent of the Ministry of Home Affairs was informed a few days back that identifying Moreh Gate No II as an authorised trade route would be problematic until and unless border fencing in Moreh sector along Indo-Myanmar border is completed fully.

This observation of the Ministry of Home Affairs has been studied by the State Government at the level of Chief Secretary.

Another source said that the State Government has been insisting on issuing due order identifying Moreh Gate No II as an authorised trade in addition to Moreh Gate No I which has been already recognised as authorised trade route.

Despite the hectic efforts of the Government of India to put up border fencing along the boundary line between Manipur and Myanmar, the Government of Myanmar has expressed its discomfiture to the New Delhi's initiative.

Even though Moreh Gate No II is seen as a crucial route for trading at Namphalong market, the Government of India has the intention to close Moreh Gate No II since earlier.

The military junta of the neighbouring country has already hinted that the trade route connecting to Moreh Gate I would be closed in case New Delhi decides to close Moreh Gate No II.

As the trade route through Moreh Gate No II is still an unauthorised route, immigration and customs posts located along the route are informal.

The State Government is confident that recognising Moreh Gate No II as an authorised route would enhance cross border trade to the benefit of both the countries.

Meanwhile, the State Government has sent a written to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to hand over the work of rice transportation from Myanmar to MANIDCO.

Accordingly, necessary process has been initiated by Food Corporation of India (FCI) to take consent of the Director General of Foreign Trade regarding the State Government's proposal.

It is expected that import of rice from Myanmar to Manipur would solve the problem of food grain shortage in the State, added the source.

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