Transporters call off strike

KAKADVITTA, AUG 11 -

Transport entrepreneurs in Mechi and Koshi zones have called of their strike following an agreement.

Samyukta Transport Management, Mechi, which had announced the strike in favour of the syndicate system and against the entry of Ujyalo Yatayat on long routes, withdrew the banda on Sunday after the local administration agreed to release its cadres who were under the police custody.

The talks between transport entrepreneurs and representatives from the District Administration Office were held at Chandragadi at the initiative of an organization named “Sambad Samuha”.

Dipendra Bhattarai, coordinator of the Sambad Samuha Secretariat, said although the strike has been called off, the dialogue is under way on other technical issues.

Meanwhile, a meeting between transport entrepreneurs and workers in Dharan, Sunsari, also decided to call off strike in Koshi zone. The strike was called in support of Samyukta Transport Management’s demands. Saroj Shrestha, Koshi Zone coordinator of the Transport Entrepreneurs National Federation, said they decided to lift the strike as “Bolbum” pilgrims were stranded.

The strikes not only affected travellers, but also hit farmers hard. Around 265 tonnes of vegetables produced in Dhankuta and Terathum districts are on the verge of perishing and farmers have been compelled to face a loss of more than Rs 30 million a day.

Medgendra Gurung, manager of Sindhuwa Multipurpose Cooperative Association said they have not been able to transport vegetables produced in seven VDCs of Jorpati and Sindhuwa to the market.

Tomato and other vegetables produced in Falaichha, Guranshe, Hile, Pakhribash, Guthitahara and Rudrabari are being exported to India and other places in the Terai region. Prem Sherpa, a farmer based in falaicha, said they have been forced to sell cabbage at Rs 4 per kg, which was at Rs 13 per kg a few days ago.  “Due to poor rain and increasing temperature, tomatoes might just rot in the farm,” said Purshotam Lamichhane, a farmer based in Belhara, adding if the situation continues for a few more days, tomatoes worth millions will be destroyed.

Traders have stated stocks of daily essentials have started depleting. Officiating Regional Administrator of Eastern Development Region Dipak Kaphle said the situation may not come to normalcy until entrepreneurs end their dispute. “We are providing ample security. However, the government doesn’t have vehicles. Until entrepreneurs themselves resolve the dispute, the situation might not change,” he said.

Although the syndicate system is illegal as per the Supreme Court ruling, the system is still in practice in many places.

The budget for this fiscal year has provisioned blacklisting those involved in syndicates and scraping their registration. However, the government has failed to impose the provision strictly.

Source: The Kathmandu Post