SC stays Govt. plan to give Kathmandu-Tarai fast track to Indian company

Kathmandu / October 8: The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday directed the government not to proceed with the contract deal for the construction of the Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track with an Indian company for now.

A single bench of Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha directed the government to put the matter on hold till October 28, as the concerns raised in regard to the project were worth considering.

The SC issued the interim order in the name of the Council of Ministers and other government agencies not to implement the project for now stating that matters to be resolved were many in the fast track.

The SC has also asked not to implement the project for now arguing that the investment modality and amount of the cost ratio were still undecided.

The apex court has further directed the concerned state bodies to come to the SC on October 28 with the progress report made so far for further discussions on the fast track.

It is said that the government is making final preparations to sign a deal with India’s Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Limited (ILFS) for the construction of the fast-track, a multi-billion dollar project.

Bhairaja Rai and others had lodged the case at the SC demanding an order from the apex court to stop the project until decision on cost and benefits were clear. Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and some ministers of his cabinet were planning to provide the deal to Indian company to please India for remaining at the helm of power.

Meanwhile, a writ petition was filed at the Supreme Court demanding a verdict on reopening all the customs points at the Nepal-India border 24 hours a day without any hindrance.

The writ filed by jointly by Forum for Protection of Consumers’ Rights and Constitutional Legal Entrepreneurs Forum Chairmen and advocates Jyoti Baniya and Dr Chandra Kant Gyawali calls for implementing the treaties and agreements reached between Nepal and India and arrangement for opening the customs points without obstruction 24 hours a day and allowing free transportation of merchandise and goods.

The Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Council of Ministers, Foreign Ministry, Ministry of Commerce and Supplies have been mentioned as the defendants by the petitioners.

The petitioners have further demanded prioritizing necessary arrangement for import of ultra essential goods necessary for Nepali nationals to carry on their daily livelihood as fuel products, food commodities and medicines among others and take steps for alternate arrangement for the same.

In the writ petition it is mentioned that the crisis emanating from the obstruction at the border and India’s unofficial blockade should be take up with the United Nations Security Council as per the UN Charter.

The petitioners have demanded informing the citizens on the obstruction of the essential supplies including fuel and its distribution and address the issue while initiating necessary arrangement.

Nepal and India are good friends who are signatories to the treaties and pacts and are members of the UN and World Trade Organization, it is stated. The petition further underlines the government’s apathy in not filing a complaint with the UN Security Council on the blockade imposed by Indian on Nepal. RSS