Burmese military authorities have reopened the Indo- Burma border road linking Paletwa town in Chin state Burma to Mizoram state in India. The road was closed for over two weeks.

“They reopened the road and the situation has normalised. We have resumed our business activities,” a pig peddler told Khonumthung News.

According to a merchant, the reopening of the border road will revive the routine trade of Burmese merchants and engine boats owners who depend on the Kaladan River to earn a livelihood.

“The income is stable if we can operate regularly,” said an engine boat owner on the condition of the Kaladan River route.

Most engine boat owners give the driver around Kyat 20,000 (Burma currency) plus health care facilities and food while they charge pig suppliers Kyat 100,000 for an engine boat which can carry around 25 pigs.

An engine boat consumes 13 gallons of diesel on a one way trip to Mizoram from Kyauk Taw town in Arakan state. The price of diesel has touched Kyat 5,000 per gallon in Chin state.

Most merchants supply pigs purchased from Kyauk Taw, Mala, Mrauk-U town of Arakan state to markets in Lawngtlai Town, Mizoram.

There are around 20 engine boats operating daily along the Kaladan River that connects Kyawk Taw town in Arakan state and Tuidang village in Mizoram state.

The military authorities imposed curfew on the road to India two weeks ago in order to search for two deserters.