Learning lessons from the past experiences, Nepal should also find alternatives to diversify her trade, commerce and

transit with the northern neighbour

The state-owned petroleum monopoly, Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), brought over 1.4 million litres of fuels — petrol, diesel, aviation turbine fuel and kerosene — from India’s Raxaul Depot on Tuesday. The amount of the fuels imported from the Raxaul Depot is almost half of what is imported during the normal time. About 70 percent of the total fuels needed for the country enter from Raxaul Depot and over 90 percent for the Kathmandu Valley. Birgunj customs is the lifeline of essential commodities to be imported from India or third countries. Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) started refilling fuels to NOC tankers from the Raxaul Depot three days before the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) officially lifted the so-called blockade at the customs point, particularly at Birgunj, over the constitutional issues. The blockade continued for almost five months crippling the normal life across the country. The UDMF has said it would not impose the blockade on the border point but has said it would continue its peaceful agitation in the district headquarters. The Front started the border blockade three days after the new constitution was promulgated on September 20.

With the lifting of blockade it is expected that supplies of essential commodities including the petroleum products will become normalized all over the country within a week. It all became possible after the major political parties amended the new constitution addressing major demands of the agitating Madhes-centric parties on January 23 although they boycotted the amendment process. The major parties have also vowed to form a political committee to address other issues related to reviewing the boundaries of the federal units. It is expected that the committee can be formed before Prime Minister KP Sharma Oil’s upcoming visit to India on February 19-23. PM Oli was saying that he would not embark on the visit without lifting the blockade.

The Madhes-based parties must realize the fact that they cannot coerce the major political parties and the entire nation by imposing an indefinite blockade at the border points, a move which has economically pushed the country ten years back. They could not remain united neither at the time of lifting the blockade that had already been relaxed before their official decision. They should think twice before taking such a harsh decision in the name of getting their demands fulfilled. On the other hand, during his official visit to India PM Oli needs to make sure that the essential commodities will enter Nepal without obstruction in the days to come besides normalizing the bilateral relations to the point where it used to be before the blockade. Learning lessons from the past experiences, Nepal should also find alternatives to diversify her trade, commerce and transit with the northern neighbour. As the supplies of the essential commodities are gradually returning to normalcy after five months of the inhuman blockade the NOC must start distributing fuels to consumers and development projects from all fuel stations in a hassle-free manner. NOC also needs to ensure that its fuel stock is enough to sustain at least for two months.

Timely Act

Much of the wild flora and fauna are endangered throughout the world as they are being traded in a clandestine manner. In a bid to curb this illegal trade the government has recently enacted the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna Control Act-2015. As Nepal is already a party to protect them so that they are not over-exploited and to curb the international trade endangering the survival of these precious species this new law takes effect throughout the country. Those guilty of such crimes in foreign countries can also be punished under the new provision. The criminals would face imprisonment for 15 years and a fine of up to Rs. 500,000 or both.

The law would help protect them by prohibiting their sale, purchases, possession, import and export of these threatened species. However, they could do so if they possess a license from the Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation or Department of Forests. Persons and organization in possession of such wildlife and flora and fauna should get them registered when they are used for study, research, training and also educational activities even when they are brought from outside Nepal.