Govt. trying to tackle shortage of goods; time to rethink Nepal India ties

People queuing up at Nepal Army’s Petrol Pump to fill fuel in their vehicles.

Kathmandu / September 26: As part of the government’s effort to mitigate the crisis of petroleum products, the government has decided to enforce an ‘odd-even license plate system’ across the country from Sunday.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) said that under the system vehicles will be allowed to ply on the roads on alternating days, based on whether the last digit in their number plate is an even or odd number.

Vehicles with even number plate will be allowed to ply on even date and those with odd number plate on odd date, the Ministry said.

Nepal has been facing shortage of petroleum product after India imposed unannounced blockade of Nepal.

Nepal has expressed concern over the ‘undue delay’ in the movement and clearance of Nepal-bound cargo vehicles at the Indian side of the border.

Issuing a press statement on Saturday the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the delay has led to ‘significant decrease in the flow of essential goods to Nepal.’ It further said that reduced flow of essential supplies has been occurring since 23 September despite the security situation in Tarai remaining the same or even gradually improving.

“This decreased flow has been noted particularly since September 23, 2015 whereas the security situation in Terai has remained the same for more than a month and now has been improving gradually,” the statement read.

Hon’ble Minister for Health and Population and Minister in charge for Foreign Affairs Khaga Raj Adhikari on Friday had met Ambassador of India to Nepal on Friday and had requested the envoy for necessary cooperation.

“The situation of supply, however, has not improved ever since. Not a single cargo vehicle could enter Nepal through Biratnagar, Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Krishnanagar and Nepalgunj checkpoints until 5 p.m. today (Saturday),” the statement said.

A handful of vehicles were allowed to enter Nepal through Mechi and Dhangadhi check point. “Due to this, the Nepalese people have begun to feel shortage of daily supplies on the eve of festive season,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

“Given the friendly relations existing between the two countries, the Government of Nepal sincerely hopes that the Government of India will take all necessary steps at the earliest to ensure uninterrupted entry of vehicles carrying essential supplies to Nepal as before.”

The Government of Nepal also has sought to assure the Indian side that all security arrangements are in place for safe transport of the goods entering Nepal. The government is sending the Minister of Supply Sunil Thapa to India to discuss the issue and find the way-out.

The Indian government has been trying to create problem to Nepal by not allowing transportation of goods to Nepal after Nepal failed to address its demand in the new constitution. Nepal has been importing over 60 percent goods from India only. India is creating pressure to Nepal to address unnecessary demands of tarai based parties.

However, leaders of the major political parties and the government has been working on different alternatives to avoid the shortage. The government has requested all public not to make unnecessary stock of petroleum products. This has given the lesson to the Government of Nepal that you need to reduce dependency to India and seek some alternatives. Although India has been blaming ongoing strike in tarai as the reason for the crisis, many containers and vehicles, which reached there for carrying goods stranded there as the Indian side did not supported them. In the past the government used to import goods in police escort where there is strike in the country.

India has been trying to play its big hand in the internal affairs of the country, so, this is the right time for the leaders of major political parties and the government to seek alternatives as the country’s northern neighbour China expressed readiness to support the country to whichever way possible. The Nepal government should consider doing more business via China as the Indian government is always trying to dominate the country. It looks that the tarai based parties are dancing at the tune of India.

During the Panchyat regime, the then government airlifted necessary goods including fuel from other countries when India imposed blockade. Although people may face some problem for few days, it will be in the national interest if the leaders and the government take some corrective measures to reduce India’s dependency. This is the time for all Nepalese people to cooperate the government and support the government despite having some problems rather than blaming the government and looking at personal comfort. Experts say that Nepal could learn a lesson from Cuba. When United States imposed blockade to Cuba, it got dependent on Soviet Union and when Soviet Union dissolved it faced challenges. People of the country faced challenges for some time but in the long term they have been able to explore their potentials and become independent.