February 10 : Yet another obstacle has been imposed in the supply of essentials to Nepal, despite the recent lifting of the border blockade. Now the supply of goods and fuel via roadway from Indian port of Kolkata has been obstructed. The Indo Nepal Truck and Trailer Association has resorted to hindering the supply to Nepal as a pressure tactic aimed at increasing collection from the freight and demurrage.
Nepal's Deputy Consular General in Kolkata, SurendraThapa, said the suppliers of trucks and containers have recently halted the supply via the port. He said that the obstruction was possibly carried out under the protection of the local political parties.
No container has been released via the roadway due to the obstruction. The association has been holding a sit-in by setting up a tent at the port’s main entrance. Around 60 percent of supply to Nepal from third countries comes via roadway from the Kolkata port. Every year, as many as 40 thousand containers come to Nepal through the port.
The Indo Nepal Truck and Trailer Association has demanded that the detention charges should be fixed at Indian Currency (IC) 2 thousand to 3 thousand rupees depending on the capacity of the trucks and the returning charge of empty containers at 2,500 Indian rupees. The clearing agents at Kolkata however have said that the demands were unreasonable, since both the detention and returning charges were increased in 10th of January earlier this year. As per the agents, the returning charges for 20-feet and 40-feet containers were then fixed at 1200 and 1500 Indian rupees respectively. They also said that the detention charges too had already been fixed at 300 to 600 rupees per day, depending on the containers’ capacity. The association has however called for further increase in the detention charges as well, citing that the prospects of regular supply to Nepal were still uncertain. The clearing agents, on the other hand, insist that demand is irrational as the earlier increase was made when the border was blocked.
Meanwhile, the association has barred also the traders who want to move their goods from the port on their own. The traders said that the association has also been threatening them and clearing agents in this regard. Deputy Consular General Thapa said, “The people affiliated to the association have been barring even other traders from entering the port. We have already informed the local police about it.” He added that the obstruction would be done away with in a couple of days through security arrangements.
Chairman of the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Pradip Kumar Kedia, said that many containers have already been stranded at the Indian side of the port due to the obstruction. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Police at the Kolkata port Sandeep Sarkar said that the police was ready to provide security to regularize the supply if the suppliers want. Speaking to reporters, he said that the problem had arisen due to tussle between the transport associations. He said that problem would however be sorted out since the agitating sides were already called for discussion and that the preparation for security arrangements was also underway.
