According to the association, when Rasuwagadhi and Tatopani border crossings were closed, hundreds of containers and trucks were stranded on the road and businessmen had to bear heavy expenses.
What you should know
The Nepal Sea Export Paithari Association has requested the government to immediately put other border crossings with China into operation as an alternative to the Rasuwagadhi and Tatopani border crossings, which are frequently blocked due to floods and landslides during the rainy season.
After the flood that washed away the Miteri bridge at Rasuwagadhi on June 24, the traffic between Nepal and China has come to a standstill and the Tatopani crossing has also been blocked for two weeks. Hundreds of containers and trucks were stranded on the road due to the closure of the crossing and the businessmen had to bear heavy expenses. The Development Committee of the Legislature Parliament had suggested that Korla and Olangchungola crossings could be operated in 2072. Although there was an agreement between the two countries to open seven northern border crossings a decade ago, the general secretary of the association, Jayant Kumar Agarwal, said that except for Rasuwagadhi and Tatopani border crossings have not been opened for commercial purposes. According to the association, the Corla of Mustang can be operated for 12 months. The infrastructure has been prepared on the China side of the Korla border, while road access has been reached on the Nepal side.
According to Agarwal, studies have shown that trade between the two countries can be conducted through the Olangchungola crossing. The association has been requested to operate the checkpoints as soon as possible.
China is the second largest import trade partner for Nepal. According to the customs department, in the financial year 2081/82, goods worth more than 85 billion rupees were imported from Rasuwagadhi border and more than 50 billion rupees from Tatopani border . The association has emphasized on the need to open alternative channels immediately to prevent the situation of disruption in festival-targeted imports, consumers being deprived of goods at affordable prices, and the loss of revenue to the government.
