Kul Prasad Rai

Dhankuta, January 18

Business transaction at Sindhua Bazaar, situated at Parewaden VDCs 5 and 6, has come to a complete halt following heightened government-Maoist hostility.

The bazaar, situated some 25 km northeast of Dhankuta headquarters, is famous for vegetables and milk. The bazaar is the main business hub for the residents of Parewaden, Telia, Tankhuwa, Bheergaun, Hattikharka, Murtidhunga, Arkhaule, and Jeetpur. Similarly, residents of neighbouring VDCs such as Shukrabare and Basantapur also come here for shopping.

The Sindhua Bazaar is a very pleasant place and can be reached via Dhankuta and Hile from Koshi highway. Vehicles ply from Sindhua to Basantapur to Myanglung and Sanishchare of Terathum. A road to reach Shukrabare from the market and Murtidhunga to Arkhaule is also under construction. Reserved land rovers and tractors also go to the market.

The bazaar is located at a height of 2,200 metres above the sea level. Kedar Nath Shreshta, ex-chairman of Parewaden VDC, said that though the market has a good environment for business, it has lost its appeal due to Maoist insurgency.

Shrestha, who has also been running a stationary shop in the market, said, 'Only 40 per cent of the original market remains today. The rising conflict between Maoists and the government has stopped the inflow of people from rural areas.'

'Even residents close to the market do not prefer to come out without a cause. The police post, established to provide security, has been shifted elsewhere and there are no local administrative departments. The bazaar wears a deserted look after 5 or 6 pm,' he added.

Nara Bahadur Lama, chairman of Sindhua Bazaar management committee, said, 'The market used to bubble with people. Now anyone can see the fall in business here.' The weekly hatia at the market on Wednesdays sees an increase in the flow of people.

The bazaar has electricity, roads, telephone and all other basic facilities but still business is spiraling down, chairman Lama said. He said that the income source of the people is going down. It is an irony that despite having everything, Sindhua Bazaar has been unable to bear the brunt of the conflict. Machendra Gurung, a businessman, said that business had also gone down when a road was constructed to Basantapur. But he underlined the fact that this type of decrease is being encountered for the first time. He said, 'Unless and until the current problem is solved, business would not pick up.'

Incessant rain in 2056 BS swept away a part of the market area. It had also caused a great deal of damage. Sindhua Bazaar, famous as a bubbling business base at one time, is now only a victim of ongoing conflict.