Payment of the goods exported to the third countries will be further delayed if the cargoes are not delivered on time

The earnings from exports to third countries have gone down due to prolonged and violent bandhs in the Tarai districts over the number of federal units and their delineations in the revised draft of the new constitution. It has been almost one month since the agitating Madhesis and  Tharus have been resorting to violent protests bringing the economic and educational activities to a grinding halt. Pashupati Murarka, FNCCI chairman, has appealed to the agitating Mahdesi parties to allow the business and manufacturing sector to run even during their political strike. But the Mahdesi leaders have refused to address the concerns of the business community. Vehicular movement in various parts of the Tarai has been hit hard as the agitators are attacking passenger buses and cargo trucks in spite of the security escorts along the highways. Export oriented business and manufacturing companies say they will have to pay heavy penalty if they fail to deliver the goods on time. The buyers from the third countries charge up to 30 per cent as compensation if their goods are not delivered on time. Imports of raw materials into the country have also been seriously affected due to the political strikes which have turned violent.

The Inland Clearance Depot (ICD) in Birgunj, which is the only rail-linked customs point from Kolkata port, has been shut for almost three weeks due to the bandh. It is the customs point from where more than 80 per cent of the goods are exported to third countries. Officials at the Nepal Freight Forwarders’ Association have said that cargo trucks from various parts of the country have not been able to reach the Birgunj customs point as a result of the agitations across the Tarai region. The officials are trying to export the goods via roads.  Bhairahawa customs point is more expensive than through ICD in Birgunj. Hundreds of cargo trucks are reported to have been waiting in queues in the Indian side for the clearance of vehicular movement in Nepal.

Although the government has provided escorting services to imports and passengers within the country by deploying security personnel, the same facilities have not been provided to the export cargoes that earn foreign currency to sustain the country’s economy. Usually it takes around 40 days to deliver cargoes to Europe and up to 55 days to the USA. Payment of the goods exported to the third countries will be further delayed if the cargoes are not delivered on time along with customs transit declaration proving that the goods have been shipped. Handicraft items, pashmina, carpet, jewelry, spices and tea are the major exports to Europe and the USA. In order to ensure timely delivery of those goods to the receiving countries the government should provide the required security to the cargoes. On the other hand, the agitating parties should also stick to a level of political ethics by not disturbing the movement of the cargo vehicles even during their general strikes. The country’s exports should not be allowed to be stopped even as the country passes through  political turmoil.

Equip them well

The Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force (APF) are now being exposed to increasing violence in several districts. The security personnel lack the necessary modern equipment to deal with such situations at any time and to undertake rescue operations in times of disasters, such as earthquake, floods and accidents. Eight police officers were brutally killed recently in Tikapur of Kailali district by a mob wielding domestic weapons as the police lacked weapons at that moment. The Nepal Police and APF are found lacking in anti-riot control equipment such as helmets, tear gas shells, protective jackets as well as vehicles and water cannons.

Belatedly the government is proceeding to buy such equipment costing one billion rupees. Considering the difficult work of providing security to the people, protecting public and private property, and dealing with threats of all kinds to the peace of the country, the necessary security equipment should be available at all times and in adequate quantities, including new sophisticated gadgets used for intelligence. It is reported that the police at several places face a shortage of resources even to fill their vehicles with fuel. They should have enough budget for discharging their basic work, including reasonable incentives.