Lok Sabha Question No. 144 (STARRED), answered on 2023-12-13
Subject: Land Custom Stations in NER
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Lorho S. Pfoze

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. 144.

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 13 TH  DECEMBER, 2023.

## LAND CUSTOM STATIONS IN NER

## *144.  SHRI LORHO S. PFOZE:

## Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether the distribution of Land Custom Stations (LCSs) in the North Eastern Region (NER) is skewed;
- (b) if  so,  whether  there  are  25  notified  LCSs  along  the  1939  km-long  IndoBangladesh Border whereas only 3 LCSs are notified along the 1643 km- long Indo-Myanmar International Border covering 4 States of India;
- (c) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether presently, only 2 LCSs namely Moreh ICP (Manipur) and Zokhawthar (Mizoram) are functional, but not in good health while Nampong (Arunachal Pradesh) is non-functional;
- (e) if so, the facts thereof;
- (f) whether the State of Manipur with a 398 km of shared Indo-Myanmar border has  been  demanding  for  opening  of  4  new  LCS  at  New  Tusom  (Ukhrul), Pilong/Ashang  Khullen  (Kamjong),  New  Somtal  (Chandel)  and  Behiang (Churachandpur) since long to strengthen socio-economic ties with Myanmar and which will be a major step towards actualization of the Act East Policy;
- (g) if  so,  whether  the  Government  has  been  considering  to  take  action  for materialization of these needs/demands; and
- (h) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

वाणिज्य  एवं उद्योग मंत्री (श्री पीयूष गोयल) THE MINISTER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (h): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (h) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 144 FOR ANSWER ON 13.12.2023.

- (a): Sir, there are 44 Land Customs Stations notified in the North Eastern Region of India covering 7 States of NER, namely Assam (16), Meghalaya (12), Tripura (11), Mizoram (2), Manipur (1), Arunachal Pradesh (1), and Sikkim (1). These LCSs cover countries bordering NER, namely Bangladesh (36), Bhutan (4), Myanmar (3) and China (1). 5 LCSs have been upgraded as Integrated Check Posts (ICP). Details are enclosed at Annexure A.
- (b): In the North East Region, there are 36 LCSs notified along the India-Bangladesh Border covering 4 States namely Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura and 03 LCSs along the India Myanmar Border covering 3 States namely Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Mizoram.
- (c): Establishing a land customs station entails assessment of trade potential, infrastructure, exim  connectivity,  industry  &  market,  availability  of  facilities  such  as  banking  and communication, topography and weather, bilateral relations and engagements with the neighbouring country. It  also involves inter-Ministerial consultations and consent of the neighbouring country.
- (d) & (e): Moreh-Tamu was a major border trade point between India and Myanmar. It has been functional  from  15.03.2018  and  was  subsequently  closed  due  to  the  COVID-19 pandemic on 10.04.2020.  It  is  still  closed  at  Tamu  side  by  the  Myanmar  authorities. Likewise, LCS Zokhawthar was also closed due to COVID-19. LCS Nampong is nonfunctional since 1962. There is no LCS infrastructure in Myanmar opposite Nampong. Also, connectivity infrastructure is very limited and there is lack of adequate industry and markets which would lead to demand of import/export.
- (f): No, sir.
- (g) & (h): Doesn't arise.

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## ANNEXURE - A

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 144 FOR ANSWER ON 13.12.2023.

|   S. No. | Name of the LCS          | Bordering Country   | State     |
|----------|--------------------------|---------------------|-----------|
|        1 | Golakganj                | Bangladesh          | Assam     |
|        2 | Dhubri Steamerghat       |                     | Assam     |
|        3 | Mankachar                |                     | Assam     |
|        4 | Suterkandi               |                     | Assam     |
|        5 | Karimganj Ferry Station  |                     | Assam     |
|        6 | Karimganj Steamer Ghat   |                     | Assam     |
|        7 | Mahisasan Raiway Station |                     | Assam     |
|        8 | Guahati Steamerghat      |                     | Assam     |
|        9 | Silchar R.M.S office     |                     | Assam     |
|       10 | Silghat                  |                     | Assam     |
|       11 | Jogighopa                |                     | Assam     |
|       12 | Badarpur                 |                     | Assam     |
|       13 | Borsora                  |                     | Meghalaya |
|       14 | Dawki                    |                     | Meghalaya |
|       15 | Balat                    |                     | Meghalaya |
|       16 | ShellaBazar              |                     | Meghalaya |
|       17 | Bholaganj (Bolanganj)    |                     | Meghalaya |
|       18 | Mahendraganj             |                     | Meghalaya |
|       19 | Dalu                     |                     | Meghalaya |
|       20 | Ghasuapara               |                     | Meghalaya |
|       21 | Baghmara                 |                     | Meghalaya |
|       22 | Ryngku                   |                     | Meghalaya |
|       23 | Kalaichar                |                     | Meghalaya |
|       24 | Nalikata                 |                     | Meghalaya |
|       25 | Demagir/Kawrpuichhuah    |                     | Mizoram   |
|       26 | Agartala                 |                     | Tripura   |
|       27 | Srimantapur              |                     | Tripura   |
|       28 | Muhurighat               |                     | Tripura   |
|       29 | Khowaighat               |                     | Tripura   |
|       30 | Old Ragnabazar           |                     | Tripura   |
|       31 | Manu                     |                     | Tripura   |

|   32 | Dhalaighat                   |         | Tripura           |
|------|------------------------------|---------|-------------------|
|   33 | Sabroom                      |         | Tripura           |
|   34 | Srinagar                     |         | Tripura           |
|   35 | Kamalasagar                  |         | Tripura           |
|   36 | Nischintapur Railway Station |         | Tripura           |
|   37 | Darranga                     | Bhutan  | Assam             |
|   38 | Hatisar                      | Bhutan  | Assam             |
|   39 | Kamardwisa                   | Bhutan  | Assam             |
|   40 | Ultapani                     | Bhutan  | Assam             |
|   41 | Sherathang                   | China   | Sikkim            |
|   42 | Nampong                      | Myanmar | Arunachal Pradesh |
|   43 | Moreh                        | Myanmar | Manipur           |
|   44 | Zokhawthar                   | Myanmar | Mizoram           |

Integrated Check Posts:

5  LCS,  namely  Agartala  (s.  no.  26),  Srimantapur  (s.  no.  27),  Dawki  (s.  no.  14), Suterkandi (s. no. 4) and Moreh (s. no. 43) have been upgraded into Integrated Check Post (ICP).

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