The Government of Nepal is paying a monthly rent of Rs. 350,000 for unused land.
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The land leased by the Nepal government at Kolkata and Haldia ports to promote import-export trade has fallen unused.
The government of Nepal is paying a monthly rent of Rs 350,000 for the unused land. Although this land has a 30-year (2014-2044) contract period, it became unused after the 2072 blockade. Nepal has leased 10,000 square meters of land at Kolkata Port and 8,985 square meters of land at Haldia Port.
These lands were leased under the Nepal Transit and Warehouse Company Limited as per the transit agreement. 4,850 square meters of land at Kolkata Port and 8,985 square meters of land at Haldia were leased in 2015 for Nepal's cargo management. However, both the leased lands are currently unused, says Himnath Poudel, Kolkata Branch Manager of the Limited. Initially, these lands were leased for the purpose of storing new vehicles, containers and bulk cargo imported by Nepali importers from third countries for some time.
'Before the Corona period, it was used for some time, but due to changes in the import process, increased cargo handling costs and the poor physical condition of the leased land, the leased land is falling into disuse,' said Poudel. Since the land does not have a cement slope, importers have had trouble storing their goods.
The land at Kolkata Port has to be rented for a monthly rent of Rs 56,000. The agreement for this land was only until 2023. The agreement has not been renewed yet. Earlier, it was said that the land would be leased and another land would be given outside. Currently, the port itself is using it.
The land in Haldia was previously used to store chemical fertilizers imported from third countries by agricultural input companies and Salt Trading Corporation, coal from Nepali importers, and new vehicles.
Senior Vice President of Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry Madhav Rajpal says that it is unfortunate that the land leased by the Nepal government in expensive and busy ports like Kolkata and Haldia, targeting Nepali import and export companies, is lying unused.
Consul General of the Nepali Consulate here, Jhakka Prasad Acharya, said that it is unfair that the land leased by the Nepal government is lying unused. He argues that if the Nepal government cannot use it itself, it can use it by renting it out to a third party. He said that some large industrial enterprises in Nepal have also shown interest in leasing the land.
The Kolkata port administration is currently demanding the return of the land. The Indian side is demanding the land for the ongoing expansion and management work of the port there. But due to the bilateral agreement, it is not possible to return the land easily.
