The operation of the dry port at Chobhar in Kathmandu from Tuesday, despite some delay, is expected to make the import-export trade more cost-effective. Since more than half of all goods imported by Nepal are consumed in the Kathmandu Valley, all work related to customs clearance can now be done at the Chobhar dry port, saving the traders a lot of hassles and time. Until now, they have had to travel to the customs clearance points along the southern border every time their goods arrived. Built with World Bank assistance worth $22 million, the dry port has a capacity to accommodate 500 containers of 20 feet each, parking facility for 500 trucks, loading and unloading facilities and six warehouses.

It has three gates, with each exclusively meant for export, import and contingencies. Other features of the dry port include litigation shed, administrative buildings for customs, quarantine, banks and other required facilities for customs clearance.

The dry port at Chobhar might have been built years ago were it not for the government's way of doing business and obstruction posed by the locals. The dry port sits on 200 ropanis of land that once belonged to Himal Cement Factory, Nepal's first of its kind. Acquiring the land and transferring its ownership to the dry port took more than three years, which had tried the patience of the World Bank that had signed the deal with the Nepal government in as early as 2013. According to the agreement, the port was to be ready for operation by 2019, but its foundation stone was laid by then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli only in January 2019. It was to be completed in 18 months' time, but the coronavirus pandemic and opposition by the locals had delayed its completion.

While the locals were concerned that the road leading to the dry port might destroy the historical, religious and cultural heritage of Chobhar, which also is the only outlet for the Bagmati River from Kathmandu, their main motive had been to regain, if possible, the land that had been acquired for the cement factory, which had been shut down due to the dust and pollution it spewed into the local environment.

As of now, only container vehicles arriving from the southern border points will be allowed to dock at the dry port as trade through Tibet is negligible in comparison. The operation of the Chobhar dry port is certainly expected to ease the traffic congestion at the Inland Clearance Depots (ICD) along the border towns of Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Biratnagar and Kakarbhitta and ferry goods to the capital without any hindrance with the help of the electronic cargo tracking system. It will also allow perishable goods to arrive in Kathmandu in time without having to be held up at the border customs for long hours. The supply system of industrial raw materials for the industries based in the valley is also expected to improve. Hopefully, the new facilities at the dry port will also help cut down on the cumbersome process of clearing and forwarding goods that add to the cost of goods.

While the dry port will play host to only container trucks now, Chobhar is expected to grow in size and activity once it is connected by rail to both India and China in the future.

Save public land

The tendency of grabbing public land is on the rise across the country due to negligence of the concerned government agencies responsible for protecting them from being registered in individuals' names. Government or public land, mainly in the urban centres, cannot be transferred to anyone's name without the collusion between government officials, elected representatives and land mafias.

After receiving complaints from the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration recently issued a circular to all the local levels to maintain records of government, public and community lands within their respective areas. As per the ministry's directives, the local levels are required to publish records of government, public and community lands on their websites, stating the plot number of such lands, area and present condition. Mostly, land on either side of the rivers and rivulets is particularly targeted by the land mafias and so-called landless people. If the government agencies and elected officials are honest, the tendency of grabbing public land can be controlled easily. The CIAA should also take strict action against those involved in seizing public lands.

A version of this article appears in the print on April 7, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.