-Chandrakala Bhandari
Jhapa, April 9 : The people living here in the district are fearing the spread of COVID-19 with the entry of trucks loaded with goods from India through the Kakadbhitta transit point.
More than 150 such trucks have entered from the very point since the announcement of the lockdown on March 23. They are parked within the premises of the Mechi Customs Office and their drivers and helpers are said to be roaming around the district without taking precautionary measures against COVID-19.
They have brought a variety of goods including coal from various provinces of India. Chief of the office, Dhruba Bishwokarma, acknowledged that 114 goods trucks had entered Nepal through Kakadbhitta transit on Tuesday (April 7) alone. He said it is not known what consignment these trucks have brought and their destinations as all drivers have not yet submitted the consignment papers.
President of Mechi Customs Agents’ Association, Mohan Niraula, said it is worrisome that so many Indian trucks have been allowed to enter on a single day at a time when there is high risk of the spread of coronavirus. He demanded that the vehicles already entering should be locked inside the customs office and their drivers and helpers put under quarantine for 14 days. President of the Hotel Entrepreneurs Regional Association, Mechinagar, Ram Bahadur Tamang also objected to the entry of vehicles in high number through the transit point saying it might only help spread the deadly disease of coronavirus.
On Monday (April 6), some youths at Jyamirgadhi in Mechinagar municipality stopped three Indian number plated vehicles from entering their town and these vehicles were returned back to India with police escorting.
Bishwokarma said they cannot stop the transit of goods unless there is order from the government. “There is no any directive yet from the higher level to stop the import and export of goods,” he said.
According to him, the goods that were held up at Kolkata port for a month are being brought from there at present. Neither Nepal nor India can stop goods at the customs, he said, adding that disinfectant is sprayed on the vehicles after they entered Nepal and the body temperature of the drivers and their helpers taken. He stated that the vehicles carrying essential goods are allowed to go their destinations. RSS
