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Kathmandu Monday February 12, 2001 Falgun 01, 2057.
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We are not running a
charity out here: Upreti
interveiw
They have already staged a series of chakka
Jams and protest programs aimed at pressing the government to rovoke its recent decision
that, among others, plans to ban vehicles older than 20 years from Kathmandu Valley from
mid-November. While the agitation show is running in its second phase, thousands of
transport entrepreneurs have started a new round of strike. This time to protest the
demands put forth by All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU), the student wing of
CPN-ML, a left party. Staging this round of strikes, which includes an indefinite chakka
jam, entrepreneurs say, they want to make it clear that they can’t afford to provide
50 percent discount in bus tickets to the students as demanded by the ANNFSU leaders.
With public buses and trucks staying off the
roads, normal life and businesses continued to suffer for the second straight day Sunday.
And the impasse has not shown any signs of improvement. Sharad Upreti, the President of
the Federation of Nepalese Transport Entrepreneurs (FNTE) talks to Utpal Raj Misra and
explains the reason behind the transport unrest and further programs. Excerpts:
TKP- Why are the transport entrepreneurs
staging these strikes? What are the demands?
Upreti- The Government has been working
against the interest of the transport entrepreneurs. For advantage of a few people the
government has been taking such steps, which directly cripples the transport business,
which are very unfair. We have put forward 13- point demand including the government
decision against disposing the vehicles that are above 20 years and the student
associations’ demand of 50 percent concession to students.
TKP- Why in your view is the government
decision to ban commercial vehicles more than 20 years old and the student
associations’ demand for a 50 per cent concession to students not appropriate?
Upreti- Both the government decision and the
students’ demand are not fair to the transport entrepreneurs. First of all, no
vehicle is considered old if it is in right condition. Regarding the increasing pollution
that the government claims, it is the government itself that is to be blamed as it has
allowed vehicles failing to meet the emission norms enter the country and has been
supplying adulterated fuel.
As for the question of 50 per cent concession
for the students’ goes, it is totally unfair to the transporters. We are not running
a charity out here; we are businessmen making our living by operating our vehicles. We
cannot afford to give any concession to anyone unless the government gives us some rebate
or subsidy in any way.
TKP- How long will this strike continue? What
steps have been taken by the transport entrepreneurs to press the government with the
demands?
Upreti- Everything is in the hands of the
government. The strike will continue and intensify until the government talks with the
transporters and make decisions in their favor. So far we have presented the government
with a memorandum. The government has not reacted in anyway till now, therefore our strike
will continue.
So far we have only stopped operating the big
public vehicles, from tomorrow all public transportation including the tempos and taxis
will stop plying on the streets. If still the government fails to do justice then we will
have transportation strike throughout the country even the long route buses and goods
carrying trucks and containers will stop operating. We will go ahead with our protest
programmes.
TKP- The government has cited pollution and
over crowding of the roads as the main reasons for banning the pre-1980 model vehicles.
Don’t you think the step will help in solving the problems?
Upreti- There is a better solution to the
pollution problem. The irregularities and corruption in the involved government
departments should be taken care of first. Nowhere in Nepal can we find unadulterated
fuel, which is the main reason for pollution. Then it is the government, which has been
allowing vehicles not meeting the emission standards enter the country.
The question of overcrowding does not exist as
the transport entrepreneurs have brought vehicles replacing the thrown Vikram tempos. In
fact only 500 vehicles have replaced the 641 Vikrams. The transporters are only being
victimized.
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