SILIGURI, April 22: 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.
(The Statesman)
Sikkim Served Fresh Daily
