Issuing a public notice on Saturday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has promised to compensate 90 percent of the damage incurred to any public vehicle during bandas called by anti-election forces between November 11 and 20. [break]
Likewise, the ministry has stated that it has made arrangements to provide Rs. 25,000 as immediate compensation through the district administration office for any damage caused to public vehicles, and appealed to all public transport entrepreneurs to run their vehicles without any fear even during bandas.
However, the transport entrepreneurs are not persuaded by the government´s promises.
“Anti-election forces have already resorted to vandalism which is going on unabated across the country. The government has not been able to restore order. With such a situation right before our eyes, how can we trust the government to ensure security for our vehicles, staff and passengers during a banda?” asked Dol Nath Khanal, general secretary of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE).
Unless the government ensures foolproof security, chances of maintaining public transport services during a banda are slim, he said. He said public vehicles can run during bandas if the political parties opposing the election promise not to do any harm to public vehicles.
He said the government should request private vehicles also to operate during a banda as that would make it easier for public transport vehicles to operate in a fearless environment.
“In the past, we experienced much difficulty in receiving compensation for vehicles vandalized during bandas. If the government really wants its announcement to work this time, it needs to simplify the compensation process,” he maintained.
Issuing a press statement Saturday, FNNTE requested the anti-election forces to allow public transport vehicles to run during the 10-day banda that they have announced.
Khanal said the government should give high priority to passenger safety, apart from promising compensation.
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