Traders said the blockade has left more than 300 containers ferrying goods worth Rs 50 million stranded on the highway, causing huge loss to the transporters as well as importers.[break] “Unfortunately, the DoR has continued to turn deaf ears to our request to expedite works to clear the roads,” Rajendra Kumar Shrestha, president of Sindhupalchowk Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI). He told Republica that the containers were ferrying goods like readymade garments, shoes, slippers and toys, among others. The goods were imported targeting the Dashain sales, when consumption soars due to festive shopping.
Transporters and traders mainly vented ire against the DoR authority as well as the government for not giving due attention to resolve the problem along the major trading route between Nepal and China. If the DoR continued to maintain its apathy, they said they could fail to build stock to manage supply during the Dashain festival in October.
Locals said that there are more than 50 small and big landslides between Bandeu- Tatopani road section of the highway.
“Following our complaint, DoR sent just one dozer to clear obstruction extending in 60 kilometers. Even that has stopped working now. This is too much,” fumed Arjun Sapkota, vice-president of Nepal Truck Container Entrepreneurs´ Association.
Officials at Division Road Office disagreed that they were not serious as locals charged. “But we can do nothing because we do not have adequate earth moving equipment in the district,” said Umesh Bindu Shrestha, chief engineer at Division Road Division, Dolakha.
He elaborated that the office needs to deploy at least two caterpillar-track earth moving equipment and a dozer to sort the problem out, whereas going by the government policy, the office has only one dozer.
Even CDO Harikrishna Upadhyaya expressed surprise over inaction by the Division Road Office. “This is a very important route and there should have been adequate equipment and resources to ensure its operation,” Upadhaya said.
He informed Republica that he has personally writer a letter to the DoR about the problem, requesting immediate response.
Businessmen, meanwhile, said that lingering problem has already caused around 50 containers full of apples to rot.
When Republica inquired about the situation to Ramkumar Lamsal, director general of the DoR, he said he would send additional equipment to clear the highway obstruction soon. “It is natural for traders to complain, but we need to look at the availability of resources as well,” he added.
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