Kathmandu, May 23, 2006

A token system introduced by the Federation of Nepal Truck- Tanker Entrepreneurs’ Association (FNTEA) has come under heavy fire from businessmen and freight forwarders, saying the system causes inflation.

Citing hike in operation costs due to rising petroleum prices, FNTEA introduced the token system on truck freight, truck loading capacity and truck queuing from yesterday.

FNTEA also fixed the freight charge of Rs 15,000 per 10 metric tonne from Birgunj and Bhairahawa to Kathmandu. Furthermore, FNTEA is also not allowing private and hired trucks to ply on these routes. “It’s totally against the norms of competitive free market system.

It’s ‘syndicate system’ in a new name, which is illegal as per the government rules,” says Birendra Thapaliya, chairman of Transport and Transit Committee at Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI).

He also said that the new system could result in major economic problem and push prices of all commodities including industrial and agricultural goods up. “This will not only affect smooth supply but also cause inflation,” he added.

Thapaliya informed that a delegation of the FNCCI today met with the Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and home minister Krishna Sitaula and apprised them of the problem.

“The new system is ‘a carteling’ by some mischievous truck entrepreneurs, which is an attempt to re-introduce syndicate system in transportation sector,” says R B Rauniar, president of Nepal Goods Carriers’ Association.

7 DIGs, 3 DSPs sent on deputation

Civil Police Headquarters today sent seven Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs) and three Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) on deputation as per the decision of the Home Ministry.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Hem Gurung has been deputed to Central Regional Police Office, Makawanpur, DIG Surendra Bahadur Pal to Far Western Regional Police Office, Dipayal, DIG Dipendra Bahadur Bista to Mid Western Regional Police Office, Surkhet, DIG Ramesh Prasad Shrestha to Western Regional Police Office, Pokhara, DIG Rabi Shrestha to Operations Department at the Police Headquarters, DIG Shyam Singh Thapa to Logistics Department, and DIG Niraj Pun to the Crime Investigation Department at the Police Headquarters.

Similarly the DSPs receiving deputation orders are Rajendra Man Shrestha who has been sent to the Police Headquarters, Yogeshwor Rom Thami, sent to the City Police Office, Kathmandu, and Akhtar Ali Ansari, who has been sent to Myagdi District Police Office.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula issued directives to the Armed Police Force (APF) personnel at a function organised at the APF headquarters.