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Protests in Tarai: FNCCI demands security
The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has criticized the government for failing to provide security to industries in the Tarai even as the plains belt has been engulfed by protests against the ongoing process to promulgate a new constitution.The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has criticized the government for failing to provide security to industries in the Tarai even as the plains belt has been engulfed by protests against the ongoing process to promulgate a new constitution.
The apex body of the private sector complained that attacks against industrial establishments had grown and that workers and security personnel were unable to protect them. Incidences of protestors hurling petrol bombs and vandalizing factory installations with the motive of bringing economic activities to a halt in the Tarai have swelled in the past few days, it said.
The FNCCI said on Friday that the government should give immediate attention to the industrial sector. With attacks on industries growing in recent days, the FNCCI has said that the Tarai protests seem to be going out of the control of the political leadership. “The protestors have become insensitive,” said FNCCI President Pashupati Murarka.
A few days ago, the FNCCI had handed over a memorandum to the leaders of the political parties behind the Tarai agitation asking them to settle the issue through dialogue and end the banda.
After the three major political parties—Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist)—decided to postpone the constitution drafting process till Sunday morning, the FNCCI urged the parties to become flexible and sit at a table to find constructive and peaceful ways to resolve their differences.
Likewise, the tendency of demanding donations has risen in the Tarai, according to the FNCCI. Political and non-political outfits based in the Tarai have been demanding hefty sums to intensify the demonstrations. Attacks on entrepreneurs and their properties have increased to press their demands for money, said the private sector’s apex body. “The FNCCI always believes in peaceful protest and is against such tendencies,” Murarka said. “We have not and will not bow down to such demands. The FNCCI does not believe in supporting any initiative that hurts the country’s economic environment.”
Meanwhile, the ongoing strikes have caused a huge economic loss. The FNCCI said traders have been incurring combined losses of Rs100 million daily as cargo trucks have been stranded forcing businesses to pay hefty detention charges and other penalties.
“The usual turnaround time for Indian trucks transporting our goods is 15 days. If they remain longer, businesses have to pay a daily fine of around Rs11,000,” said Murarka.
More than 8,000 trucks have been stuck at several places in Tarai, according to the FNCCI. In Raxaul alone, there is a 60km queue of trucks awaiting their turn to enter Nepal under police escort.
According to Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a large number of containers carrying goods imported for the festive season have been stuck at India’s Kolkata port. The importers say they have to pay detention charge of $60-70 per container daily in addition to the transport service charge of IRs2,500-4,000 a day. Similarly, the trucks carrying cement clinkers have been stranded along the Birgunj-Pathlaiya Industrial Corridor. The importers have been compelled to store the raw material under open sky. Around 600 containers have been reported to be stranded in the Birgunj dry port area.
As per a study of the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the country suffers a loss of Rs500 million in a single day of disruption in Birgunj and adjoining areas. Based on the study, the total loss in the last 28 days of strikes is expected to be worth Rs14 billion.
In Sarlahi, government offices have remained closed for the last three weeks, affecting the government’s revenue collection. The banda has also affected the income of the general people. Kapil Upreti, proprietor of Kanchan Traders, Nawalpur, said his monthly turnover has come down to a mere Rs45,000 from Rs1 million.
Customs and land revenue offices in Rautahat are witnessing a heavy fall in revenue. On an average, Gaur Customs Office has been losing Rs335,000 in daily revenue. Four small customs offices in the district have also remained closed.
Kapilvastu Customs Office said there has been almost no transaction in the last one month. The office is expected to lose Rs100.50 million in average revenue. Dhruba Bishwakarma, chief of Krishnanagar Customs, too said revenue collection was almost negligible.