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Kathmandu Saturday June 24, 2000 Ahsad 10, 2057.
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Strike is no solution
The decision taken by Federation of Nepalese Transport
Entrepreneurs (FNTE) that it would stage chakka jam if the government failed to meet its
eight-point demands, is a matter that has to be taken seriously. This is so because such a
strike cripple the daily life of the people, hit the country’s economic activities
and have long term impact on the country’s transport policies. Although there are
ways to resolve the differences between FNTE and the government, the warning that has come
from the FNTE to stage chakka jam cannot be justified at a time when the country badly
needs suitable laws to govern different sectors. The government, therefore, has to give a
serious thought whether the demands of FNTE are really worth considering.
FNTE the other day, without elaborating their demands at
length, pressed the government to meet its eight point demand. Of them, the three major
demands which can hardly be justified include review of traffic law, abolition of road tax
and ban on battery operated three wheelers in the Kathmandu valley. Should the government
review traffic law at a time when a driver hardly follows traffic laws? If the government
abolishes road tax, how are municipalities going to meet the annual expenditure and with
what resources are the roads to be maintained? Has the government ever been able to
provide adequate budget to municipalities? Eco-friendly battery operated vehicles have
every right to ply in Kathmandu valley or is FNTE going to meet the demand of commuters
who have to wait hours at bus stand before they board into a crammed bus? These are a few
questions which do not justify FNTE’s demand. Neither has the government made any
convincing statement on these issues to FNTE.
However, the conformity of production certificate (COP) which
has been made a mandatory requirement for importing new vehicles has become an overriding
issue. This is neither feasible nor possible since manufacturers cannot issue COPs in
advance. In such a situation, the government must work out alternatives without
compromising the basic thrust of the COPs. As things stand, the government has no option
but to clear the investment of 40 million rupees for 400 vehicles, only if they meet the
emission standard introduced since December last year.
The government should assure FNTE that it can consider some
of their genuine demands before they stage the catastrophic chakka jam. The country cannot
afford such a strike that adversely hits its economy. The past experiences also show that
the country had had to undergo economic slowdown due to bandhs and chakka jams. The
differences between FNTE and the government should not become a hurdle to economic growth.
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