Birgunj, January 12:

Himalayan Terminals Pvt Ltd (HTPL) and Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board (NITDB) signed a supplementary agreement for managing the Sirsiya dry port (ICD) in Parsa, on Thursday.

Executive director Sharad Bikram Rana and HD Gujrati signed the agreement on behalf of NITDB and HTPL, respectively. Three years ago, the government has given the dry port to HTPL on lease for Rs 940 million for a period of 10 years. HTPL has, however, repeatedly, urged the government to review the lease agreement saying it has been incurring loss.

Under the reviewed agreement that will be effective for three years, HTPL will have to pay NITDB Rs 40 million for the first year, Rs 45 million for the second year and Rs 50 million for the third year. Apart from this, HTPL will have to pay Rs 2,200 revenue — for 14,100 containers for the first year, 17,200 containers for the second year and 20,200 containers for the third year — for each container. Similarly, HTPL will also pay Rs 2,14,000 for the first year, Rs 2,37,000 for the second year and Rs 3,41,000 for the third year as revenue that is at Rs 19 per metric tonne for the open cargo.

They will decide — after two-and-a-half years — on either to continue the agreement for the rest of the four years or not. “For the remaining four years, we may sign another agreement after extensive discussion between the two sides,” said Rana. He said that HTPL has agreed to pay the first instalment of Rs 70,000 — out of the total due rent of Rs 60.29 million — within a week. “It will furnish a bank guarantee for the remaining amount,” he informed, adding that failure in paying the due amount within three years will attract 5.5 per cent interest per annum. Meanwhile, contractors in Bhairahawa and Biratnagar have expressed resentment over the agreement review with HTPL. According to a Commerce Ministry official, they also want their agreement to be reviewed. “If HTPL can have supplementary agreement, why not others,” they said, adding that they also want their old contract reviewed as they are also incurring losses.

Last year, HTPL handled 12,000 containers and earned Rs 45 million but after paying Rs 52 million rent, it had incurred a loss of seven million rupees.

CONCOR, importer interaction:

BIRGUNJ: Nepali importers — saying that they are charged late fee by the shipping companies for delay in returning the empty container — urged Indian officials to change the policy.

During an interaction in Birgunj on Friday, Nepali importers have requested regional chief of CONCOR HD Gujrati to change the policy. “We will try to help,” Gujrati said, adding that a positive result will come in a month.

“The CONCOR will help solve the problem by holding a meeting of ship companies in Mumbai this month,” Gujrati said, adding that the ship companies will be requested to operate their service from Nepal. Indian shipping firms — saying that empty containers did not arrive at Kolkatta on time — have been charging huge amount of late fees. According to Birgunj Chambers of Commerce and Industry, they have paid Rs 50 milli-on as a late fee to Indian shipping companies in past six months. According to the provision, empty containers should return to Kolkata within two weeks. — HNS