WB policy of quarantining Cargo drivers leave exporters in jeopardy

Ludhiana, July 17 (KNN) The Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU) has demanded that the cargo drivers should not be quarantined for seven days in West Bengal as exporters face trouble in sending goods to Bangladesh through the state.

In a representation sent to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Union ministry of commerce, West Bengal Chief Minister and Punjab Chief Secretary, the CICU members said that goods are being exported to Bangladesh via road and no loading and unloading takes place in West Bengal.

''The cargo drivers are being quarantined for seven days when they enter Nadia district in West Bengal due to lockdown restrictions imposed by the district magistrate there,'' they added.

“The industry has to pay heavy charges as truck demurrage charges and the delay in goods movement will affect business. As industry is already reeling under recession due to Covid-19 pandemic and cannot bear additional costs,'' said CICU president Upkar Singh Ahuja and co-convener (exports promotion committee) Sarvjit Singh.

''The administration should get this issue resolved,” they added.