Birgunj, October 29

The District Administration Office, Parsa has decided to provide security escort to containers and trucks that have been stranded at the dry port on Nepal-India border due to the blockade imposed by the agitating Madhes-based parties.

A meeting held by Chief District Officer Keshav Raj Ghimire with security officials decided to provide security escort to containers and trucks up to Simara of Bara. Security officials said containers and trucks would not face security threats once they reach Simara.

The meeting also decided to appoint a focal person to manage security for cargo vehicles heading for the dry port in Birgunj.

Dry port Revenue Office Chief Devi Prasad Bhandari said they were preparing bring trucks and containers stranded at the dry port from Thursday night.

Ram Babu Sah, director of Himalayan Terminal Pvt Ltd, said transport operators, laborers and clearing agents would begin their jobs immediately to facilitate entry of containers and trucks from the Nepal-India border.

Pradeep Kumar Kedia, president of Birgunj Chambers of Commerce, said the initiative taken by the district administration would help industries, which have been closed for want of raw materials, resume their operation.

According to him, around 1,000 industries along Bara-Parsa corridor have halted operation for want of raw materials. As many as 725 containers and 1.5 metric tonnes of daily essentials have been stranded at the dry port.

It has been reported that a large number of agitating Madhesi youth have reached the border to obstruct the entry of the containers and trucks to Nepal.