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Kathmandu,Thursday January 27, 2000 Magh 13th, 2056.
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Transport stir disrupts life
By a Post Reporter
ILAM, Jan 26 - The blockade
created by transport entrepreneurs in Sunmai, near the border of Ilam and Jhapa, has
disrupted life in three districts of Mechi zone since the past one week.
Bus entrepreneurs in
Birtamod, Jhapa have been preventing vehicular movement here since Thursday over a
squabble that took place between passengers and transport workers in Fidim regarding the
bus fare. This has made life difficult for people in Ilam, Panchthar and Taplejung where
food supply have almost come to a standstill.
"They have been stopping
even the goods carriers since the past few days," said Mayor of Ilam Mahesh Basnet.
"Because of this we have not been able to bring in goods."
There is a severe shortage of
kerosene and none of the newspapers have reached Ilam. Those in hurry have to trek for a
day to reach the place while some are taking a detour via Siligudhi and Darjeeling of
India to Pashupatinagar.
Sunil Adhikari who had to go
to Biratnagar from Fikkal said he has been surviving on momos (dumplings) and bread for
the past two days. "The hotels don’t serve rice as they have no stock
left," he said.
Aas Bahadur Limbu of Soyak
VDC who picked up oranges from the orchard in Godak to transport it to Jhapa did not find
a truck to carry it. The oranges worth thousands of rupees are about to decay.
According to Hem Bahadur
Fago, chairperson of Fikkal VDC, the transport entrepreneurs have hired some unemployed
youth to stop the vehicles. "These youths stay in the middle of the road dead drunk
burning tyres," said Fago. "If anyone reaches there these youths deflate the
tyre of the vehicle."
A taxi which carried army
personnel to the Charaali camp in Jhapa had to be escorted back by an army truck.
This has also led to
escalation of the taxi fare in the surrounding areas. Malina Shrestha, a staff of the
Women Development Association, Regional Office, Ilam, said she paid Rs 200 to a taxi for a
5-kilometre ride.
Likewise, the jeep owners too
have been charging upto Rs 300 per person for a trip from Fikkal, east Ilam to the
headquarters that is just 32 kilometres away. However, these jeeps too have to take
chances.
Conceding that the blockade
has affected life severely Chief District Officer Narendra Raj Sharma said a solution will
be sought through the meeting with all concerned parties. All shops were closed in Ilam
bazaar today as a protest against the blockade.
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