BIRGUNJ, Aug 24: With an indefinite strike in the eastern Terai districts, imports from India have come to a complete halt. Around 4,000 vehicles carrying essential goods are stranded at the border at Birgunj, the major gateway into Nepal.
Demanding cancellation of the proposed provincial boundaries, an alliance of Madhesi parties has continued their protest across the Terai from Jhapa to Parsa since the last eight days. Cargo containers and trucks are stranded at the Indo-Nepal border in a queue stretching back some 25 km from Laxmipur, Raxaul. Around 400 vehicles carrying consumer goods and raw materials for industry come through the border point on a normal day."The holdup will hit the economy directly. The current bandha has added to the woes of industry, which was already reeling under the impact of the recent earthquake," said Bijay Sarawagi, coordinator of the commerce and supplies committee at the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industy.
He further said that the agitators could have tried alternatives to closing off the border to press their demands.
"The bandha has inflicted losses running into billions. But the government seems unconcerned," added Sarawagi, who is an importer himself.
Rabindra Singh Chauhan, a truck driver, said that he has been stranded at the border near Raxaul for a week. His truck is carrying 22 tons of glucose powder imported from West Bengal.
"I am afraid to transport goods into Nepal in defiance of the strike," said Sonu Sharma, another trucker, who is bringing industrial chemicals from Goa.
Traders, businessmen and importers have all become irate. They said they can neither change the border entry point nor turn back the goods because of the legal complications that will ensue.
The containers lying stranded at Birgunj inland container depot brought in iron, feed and fast moving consumer goods. The empty containers are the property of Indian shipping companies and have to be returned within 14 days after delivery of the consignments. "The shipping companies charge a container 30-60 U.S. dollars per day of delay," Devi Prasad Bhandari, chief customs officer at the dry port, told Republica.
Meanwhile, Harihar Paudel, communications officer at the dry port, informed that collection of revenue worth Rs 50 million a day has been affected.
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