AGARTALA, June 25 (TIWN): The state government has sought Centre’s approval to inaugurate the first-ever border haat at Srinagar, according to official sources here. All the necessary facilities for border trade have been created at Srinagar border haat and the department is waiting the Commerce Ministry’s approval for formal inauguration, said Director Industries and Commerce Pravin L Agrawal here today.

 “Only missing thing is identification of venders and vendees and this could be done within next few days with the Addl DM, South district working on it”, he said. The Rs. 2.5 crore border haat has been constructed with financial assistance from the Commerce Ministry and three more such haats are in the pipeline. At Kamalasagar, foundation stone for border haat has been laid on May 21 in presence of officials from both sides.

“Following a request from the Industry department, the BSF has given its nod to open a gate on barbed wire fencing. Now, the construction agency will start work very shortly”, he said.

Project Reports (PRs) for two more border haats at Kamalpur and Raghna have already been sent to the Commerce Ministry and both proposals are under active consideration of the Centre, Agrawal said.

If there any plan to set up more border haats along the state’s border with Bangladesh, he said, “ The BSF wants one border haat for every 15 km Indo-Bangla border but the government favours to see the success of the four sanctioned border haats.

If feedback appears good, then the government may opt for more border haats”, he said. BSF’s Addl DG BD Sharma, who was on a whirlwind visit to the state, had said “The BSF has proposed establishing 60 border haats along the Indo-Bangla border to encourage trade between two sides in legal way. Better border management doesn’t mean only guarding the border by gun totting jawan and erection of barbed wire fencing. Improvement in socio-economic development of plays key role to make the border calm”.