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After capturing the Indian market with
its low-cost electronic goods, it seems China is now trying
to get hold of the country’s apple market.
Chinese apples are being increasingly smuggled
to West Bengal via the Nepal corridor. The size of this fruit
smuggling trade can be assessed from the fact that between
February and March alone, the Customs department in north
Bengal has confiscated 2515 tons of Chinese apples, imported
illegally. Official figures put the wholesale price of the
seized apples at around Rs 88 lakh.
According to the Customs officials, like other items, apples
from China are first entering into Nepal through the border-trade
points like Lhasa. Then, these are being transported to West
Bengal, using the Panitanki post near Siliguri.
The reason behind utilising the Nepal-West
Bengal corridor for this illegal import lies in the cost-effective
transportation facility, as compared to other established
trade routes.
Moreover, once the fruit consignments get into this part of
the border, the very topographical positioning of Siliguri
ensures a vast market at close corner. Being a perishable
good, the fruit can easily be dispatched to all over West
Bengal, in addition to the Northeast and the neighbouring
states of Bihar, Jharkhand etcetera.
Resultant to the new trend of smuggling in the Chinese fruits,
retail markets across the state, including that of Kolkata,
are nowadays witnessing a presence of Chinese apples. Consumers
are also finding this a better buy since comparing to the
imported US apples, Chinese apples are of good quality and
low-cost at the same time. In certain cases, they are even
priced below the Indian apples.
Courtesy: The Statesman |
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