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Kathmandu Wednesday January 24, 2001 Magh 11, 2057.
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‘Business sector prime victim of worsening
law & order’
Post Report
KATHMANDU, Jan 23 - Top industrialists and businessmen gathered in an
extensive interaction program on theme "Peace, Security and Development"
organised by Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) here today
expressed deep concern over the deteriorating law and order condition of the country and
urged with the government to act quickly to contain it.
Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, President of FNCCI, the apex body of Nepali business
community, said that recently seen vandalism, attacks and looting of industries has
greatly disturbed the environment of investment in the country. "The recent
industrial unfriendly activities has thrown cold water on decades long government’s
effort to attract domestic as well as foreign investment to boost the economic" and
questioned, "How can we expect foreign investment in such environment?"
At a time when business community is facing difficult time due to the
unsolved tax and other problems. The frequently occurring Nepal Bandhs, which results in
millions rupees losses and soars the cost of production, has further complicated the
industrial scene, said Shrestha.
He said that the business community had hoped conducive environment after the
formation of majority government. However, it performances, so far, has failed to move in
that direction, and added that business community has been the prime victims of worsening
law and order situation. He also warned of massive capital flights if the government fails
to take immediate and concrete steps to preserve confidence of business community.
He also informed the gathering that FNCCI is seriously thinking of
formulating a national strategy on protecting industries and business house from oft
occurring vandalism and looting.
Rajendra Kumar Khetan, Vice-President of FNCCI, speaking on the occasion,
highlighted various activities that FNCCI has been conducting to minimise the disturbances
and damages to the industries caused by the deteriorating law and order situation and
flayed the government for its non-co-operative behaviour. "After a comprehensive
discussion with the all concern officials of the government, FNCCI had submitted a
detailed phase-wise plan last July with an aim to squeeze the ongoing industrial
disturbances, but our suggestions never materialised," said pessimist Khetan.
He, however, said that the government during its last week’s meeting
with business community had assured them that some concrete steps would be taken soon.
"During our meeting with the government we had presented a three-point demand to the
government: keeping the industrial area under well-managed security belt; deployment of
private security agencies with enough measures and introduction of necessary amendments in
the existing rules and regulations to enhance security," he said. He also spoke about
three-phase recommendation that FNCCI is presenting to the government as a long-term
solution to the present problem.
Another vice-president of FNCCI, Binod Bahadur Shrestha, also spoke out
against the government and warned that if the government cannot come forward with
comprehensive plan to curb growing attacks on industrial and business communities, the
business community would have to search for other alternatives to make themselves secure.
"The problems of industrial insecurity is far more intense in districts than in the
Kathmandu valley" and expressed the hope than forthcoming FNCCI’s plans of
actions would help to address the problem.
Expressing deep concern over the repeated attacks and looting of industries,
Padma Joyti, Former President of FNCCI urged the government to provide necessary modern
equipment to safeguard industries from such attacks. He said "it is quite strange
that even after number of attacks, the administration has failed to arrest a single
person". Criticising frequently occurring Bandhs, he urged all the political parties
to declare ‘Bandh-free-year’ at least for coming one year. Banwari Lal Mital, an
industrialist, said the recent riot in the valley has greatly shaved-off investment
confidence and urged all the people to drastically change their mentality to safeguard the
nation from such riots. Kishor Pradhan of Morang Chamber of Commerce and Industry blamed
all the political parties for the present messy industrial environment and quipped,
"Why should we pay taxes to the government, if is cannot provide us adequate
security?
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