April 7: A parliamentary committee has stood against the government’s decision to lift the ban on import of betel nuts. A meeting of the Industry, Commerce and Labour and Consumer Welfare Committee of the House of Representatives (HoR) has directed the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies to stop issuing permits to import betel nuts.

The meeting held discussion on Wednesday and concluded that the import of betel nuts was not necessary at a time when the country’s economy was reeling under crisis and the foreign exchange reserves were declining, informed the committee chair Bimal Prasad Shreevastav.

“We have instructed the government not to issue permits to import betel nuts,” said Shreevastav, adding, “The committee has decided to monitor the situation of import and usage of betel nuts through a field visit.”

He said that the committee will visit the industries that are involved in importing betel nuts for a study and then hold further discussions. The committee said it had no objection to the import of peas and black pepper.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Prakash Rasaili insists that the government has been presenting fake data about the import of betel nuts.

“We had sought the government’s explanation regarding the demand of betel nuts. But the government officials lied to us by hiding the details,” said Rasaili.

He says that the committee decided to halt the import of betel nuts after the government employees presented fake data. Other lawmakers were also in favour of banning the import of betel nuts which are primarily used to make tobacco-related products.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers had decided to allow the imports of betel nuts, peas and black pepper about two months ago. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has already published a notice in the Nepal Gazette stating that the ban on import of these items has been lifted.

Although these items are imported for industrial purpose, it is believed that the products are smuggled to India. A large amount of foreign currency is spent in importing these items. The government has been accused of lifting the ban on import of betel nuts in collusion with businessmen for the sake of money.