Eastern Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs Association has said transporters operating in the region alone have so far suffered losses of Rs20 million due to vandalism amid the ongoing Tarai unrest.

The association said about 400 transport entrepreneurs were headed towards bankruptcy, while around 40 transport workers have been injured as protestors pelt stones at vehicles.

Madhes-based parties have been imposing an indefinite banda in the southern plains protesting the new constitution promulgated on September 20.

The transport workers have been heavily affected by the banda with worsening living condition. Of around 15,000 transport workers in the Eastern Region, nearly 6,000 are out of job now, according to the association.

The association’s President Rajan Kadel said 350 buses and trucks have so far been vandalised. “Most of the buses do not have windshields and we have covered the damaged parts with steel wire mesh,” he said.

According to a transport entrepreneur, it costs around Rs38,000-40,000 for changing a windshield of Deluxe and AC buses, while a new window glass costs Rs1,500-2,000.

The buses are being fitted with steel wire mesh or wooden windshields with small glass windows so as to protect drivers and passengers from stones hurled by the protestors. The entrepreneurs have informed the government in written about the damages caused to the vehicles and injuries to the workers through chief district officers.

According to the association, more than 3,500 buses and trucks operate in the Eastern Nepal. Most of the entrepreneurs have purchased vehicles with bank loans by putting their property up as collateral. They service the loans from the incomes generated by operating the vehicles.

According to the entrepreneurs, it costs Rs4.6 million for a Deluxe bus, while an AC bus costs Rs6.1 million. The association has demanded the government subsidise the interest they have to pay to the banks as a relief measure.

Four jute mills close down

BIRATNAGAR: Four jute factories here have closed down permanently due to the prolonged Tarai unrest. With this, the number of closed Jute factories has reached seven. The fresh closure of the factories has left 1,500 workers unemployed. Jute industries are labour-intensive and employ more individuals. “Nepal Jute Mill, Chandra Shiva Jute Mill, Pathibhara Jute Mill and Guheswori Jute Mill have closed down permanently,” said Raj Kumar Golchha, president of the Jute Industries Association. Earlier, Niki Jute, CM Jute and Biratnagar Jute Mill had shut down. Golchha said the factories had to be closed as the produced jutes could not be sent to the market.