Valley
Parliamentary Committee directs govt to resolve border blockade issue
Today's meeting of the Development Committee under the Legislature-Parliament directed the government to be effortful to resolving the border blockade imposed by India on Nepal.Today's meeting of the Development Committee under thelegisladirected the government to be effortful to resolving the border blockade imposed by India on Nepal.
Arguing that the right of the countrymen to live with dignity was at stake by the border blockade and its repercussions, the Committee directed the government to safeguard the rights and resolve the issue at the earliest.
Stating that the trade embargo was inconsistent with the globalization and free trade which adversely affected the country and the countrymen of the landlocked country Nepal, the meeting also drew the attention of the government towards it.
The meeting, determining the very trade embargo was against the spirit of the trade agreement reached amongst Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, also known as BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement, directed the government for effective implementation of the Agreement, according to Rabindra Adhikari, Chairperson of the Committee.
The agreement, inked on June 16 this year, allows seamless connectivity of passengers and vehicles through the roadways of these countries.
Furthermore, a direction has been issued to the government to upgrade the road network to the bordering points to north and arrange budget for the same.
Also, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT), Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development and Ministry of Finance have been directed to coordinate and collaborate for the same.
The government has further been instructed to submit a report to the Committee after carrying out a feasibility study of railways connectivity between Nepal and China in view of facilitating trade.
Assessing that the widespread fuel shortage in the country had hindered the important development projects, the meeting asked the authorities to address the adverse effects on the projects.
The directives also include the necessary arrangement of on-site visit to Rasuwagadhi and Tatopani border points and promotion of trolley bus and electric vehicles in the country.
Similarly, the meeting appealed to the disgruntled Madhesi leaders, who are spearheading the agitation in various districts in lowland south of the country, to reach a conclusion on the agitation.
On the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar asserted that the ongoing agitation and issues like border blockade are political problems and should be resolved through political means.
Expressing his sorrow over Nepal's growing lukewarm tie with India lately, he spoke of the need for Nepal to maintain a balanced relationship with both India and Nepal.
Secretary of the MoPIT, Gajendra Kumar Thakur and Director General of Department of Roads, Madhav Kumar Karki pledged that they will accord high priority to border points with China as Rasuwagadhi, Tatopani and Korala besides operating border points with southern neighbor. RSS