China agrees to build Rasuwagadhi ICD
KATHMANDU, OCT 15 -
One more Inland Container Depot (ICD) will be built on the Nepal-China border point with the Chinese assistance, with China agreeing to contruct a depot in Rasuwagadhi, Rasuwa, the Ministry of Commerce and Supply (MoCS) said on Tuesday. The ICD in Larcha, Sindhupalchowk is also being constructed with Chinese assistance.
According to the ministry, Nepal and China have prepared the final draft of the overall ICD structure in Rasuwagadi. During the bilateral talks held in Kathmandu on Monday and Tuesday, the Chinese side agreed to construct the infrastructure including a quarantine facility, warehouse, customs office, inspection and security, bank, restaurant and medical treatment. “Except for the parking yard, they principally agreed to construct all other infrastructure,” said MoCS Joint-Secretary Toya Narayan Gyawali who is also a member of the bilateral talks.
Gyawali said the final draft will be reviewed by the Chinese government. “Once the Chinese government approves the final draft, a formal agreement on ICD construction in Rasuwagadi would be signed.”
Six-member Chinese team led by Zhang Hua, executive director of Foreign Aid Cooperation, China held talks with the MoCS officials on the findings of the pre-feasibility study conducted earlier by the Chinese side.
Gyawali said the northern neighbour has agreed to construct three quarantine check points related with animal, plant and food testing. “They also agreed to construct the laboratories necessary for them.”
Similarly, China has also agreed to construct two warehouses for cargo and litigation purposes. The cargo warehouse facilitates to stock up the traded goods for certain time, while the litigation warehouse allows compartment for the goods which need further investigations before clearing them.
Likewise, the Chinese side has also agreed to build separate computer room, customs recording room, waiting room and passenger pathways are among the infrastructure. The MoCS said the Chinese side, however, asked for some time to review the construction of parking yard citing high cost. Nepal has proposed the Chinese delegates to construct parking yard in 1-2 hectares of land area located along a riverbank.
According to the MoCS, the two-day meet focused on the construction of the entire package of ICD structures. However, it did not cover the issue of the alternative cargo route and extension of the railway line into Nepal.
During the visit of the then Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao in January 2012, China had agreed to support Nepal in constructing dry ports at six major customs points along the northern border, including Rasuwagadhi. However, the project had been held up due to delays over land acquisition by Nepal. China has taken initiative after the government acquired five hectares of land in Langtang Conservation Area.
Currently, the Tatopani border is the main land route to trade with China. The construction of the ICD in Rasuwagadhi is expected to facilitate the trade with the northern neighbour by providing an alternative trade route.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
