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Mizzima:Jute industry being affecte

Subject: Mizzima:Jute industry being affecte
From: mizzima@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sun, 07 Oct 2001 03:14:00

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Jute industry being affected in Assam, NE India

By Our Correspondent
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)

Guwahati, Oct. 7: The Government of India has been laying stress on the
border trade with the neighboring countries including Burma by opening
of new roads and rail communication links. However, the recent decision
of Railway authorities to stop the two railway services ? Nagaon-Silghat
and Hoiborgaon-Moirabari in Assam State -- is hurting the local economy
in this northeastern state of India where tea and jute industries are
major economies.

The North East Frontier Railways authorities recently decided to
dismantle the two railway services which were once used by the British
to expand its power to neighboring Burma, saying that the lines were
having ?low return and increase in recurring expenditures?. The
authorities? decision has hurt the sentiment of the people in the state.
Disappointed with the move, the people of the state have raised a
vociferous protest and demanded restoration of the services in the
greater interest of the region.

Mr. Baneswar Saikia, former MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) of the
area said that the decision of the railway authorities has broken the
economy of the state. Mr. Saikia who has been building a public opinion
against the move vows to carry out a vigorous agitation for restoration
of the services. ?The train services played a significant role during
the Second World War. Apprehending fierce battle along the Indo-Burma
border, the Allied forces used the rail lines in dumping heavy arsenal
in the area to meet the challenges of the enemy forces?.

The two rail lines were first introduced by the British in 1930 with an
eye to explore the potential of the Northeastern region and in a bid to
export jute and tea to the European countries as there were bumper jute
and tea production during the period. Despite a nagging attitude towards
the British government for its repression and suppression, more and more
people were involved in export and the train services became popular
among the local people in a short period. Inspired by the export policy,
several new entrepreneurs had set up tea and jute industries, which
still share a major contribution to the state economy.

Due to the withdrawal of the train services, the people are facing
severe hardships and several jute industries in the state are facing
imminent closure. The Silghat jute mill, which was set up a long time
back, is facing shortage of raw materials due to transportation problem.
While Nagaon was once recorded as a major jute growing area of the
state, its production is now gradually declining as the people have
stockpile of cultivation. ?We have stopped cultivation due to lack of
markets?, said a group of farmers in Nagaon.

Mr. Robin Bora, who runs a jute industry in Nagaon, demanded for the
reopening of the railway services. ?The jute industries are facing
severe problem due to shortage of jute as there is no proper railway
services?, he said.

Notably, the dismantle of these two rail roads is inconsistent with the
growing demand for better communication links between India?s North
Eastern States and neighboring countries such as Bangladesh and Burma.
The previous Assam government in fact demanded the Union Railways for
opening of railway lines with Burma connecting the Tinsukia district of
the state with Indo-Burma border. Moreover, there is existing the famous
Stilwell road, which connects Assam State with Burma.

Mr. Satyan Hazarika, a young entrepreneur in the state said that if road
and rail communications are opened with Burma and Bangladesh, then
entire North-East would get a big market as there are good demands of
tea and other jute products in these neighboring countries. It may be
mentioned here that there are identified 32 border trade points in the
North East India, but due to poor rail and road links, the border trade
is yet to gain momentum.

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<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en">
<html>
&nbsp;
<center>
Jute industry being affected
in Assam, NE India</center>

By Our Correspondent
 Mizzima News <a href="www.mizzima.com">(www.mizzima.com)</a>
Guwahati, Oct. 7: The Government of India has been laying
stress on the border trade with the neighboring countries including Burma
by opening of new roads and rail communication links. However, the recent
decision of Railway authorities to stop the two railway services ? Nagaon-Silghat
and Hoiborgaon-Moirabari in Assam State -- is hurting the local economy
in this northeastern state of India where tea and jute industries are major
economies.
The North East Frontier Railways authorities recently
decided to dismantle the two railway services which were once used by the
British to expand its power to neighboring Burma, saying that the lines
were having ?low return and increase in recurring expenditures?. The authorities?
decision has hurt the sentiment of the people in the state. Disappointed
with the move, the people of the state have raised a vociferous protest
and demanded restoration of the services in the greater interest of the
region.
Mr. Baneswar Saikia, former MLA (Member of Legislative
Assembly) of the area said that the decision of the railway authorities
has broken the economy of the state. Mr. Saikia who has been building a
public opinion against the move vows to carry out a vigorous agitation
for restoration of the services. ?The train services played a significant
role during the Second World War. Apprehending fierce battle along the
Indo-Burma border, the Allied forces used the rail lines in dumping heavy
arsenal in the area to meet the challenges of the enemy forces?.
The two rail lines were first introduced by the British
in 1930 with an eye to explore the potential of the Northeastern region
and in a bid to export jute and tea to the European countries as there
were bumper jute and tea production during the period. Despite a nagging
attitude towards the British government for its repression and suppression,
more and more people were involved in export and the train services became
popular among the local people in a short period. Inspired by the export
policy, several new entrepreneurs had set up tea and jute industries, which
still share a major contribution to the state economy.
Due to the withdrawal of the train services, the people
are facing severe hardships and several jute industries in the state are
facing imminent closure. The Silghat jute mill, which was set up a long
time back, is facing shortage of raw materials due to transportation problem.
While Nagaon was once recorded as a major jute growing area of the state,
its production is now gradually declining as the people have stockpile
of cultivation. ?We have stopped cultivation due to lack of markets?, said
a group of farmers in Nagaon.
Mr. Robin Bora, who runs a jute industry in Nagaon, demanded
for the reopening of the railway services. ?The jute industries are facing
severe problem due to shortage of jute as there is no proper railway services?,
he said.
Notably, the dismantle of these two rail roads is inconsistent
with the growing demand for better communication links between India?s
North Eastern States and neighboring countries such as Bangladesh and Burma.
The previous Assam government in fact demanded the Union Railways for opening
of railway lines with Burma connecting the Tinsukia district of the state
with Indo-Burma border. Moreover, there is existing the famous Stilwell
road, which connects Assam State with Burma.
Mr. Satyan Hazarika, a young entrepreneur in the state
said that if road and rail communications are opened with Burma and Bangladesh,
then entire North-East would get a big market as there are good demands
of tea and other jute products in these neighboring countries. It may be
mentioned here that there are identified 32 border trade points in the
North East India, but due to poor rail and road links, the border trade
is yet to gain momentum.
&nbsp;</html>

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