BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Indian transporter strike cripples Nepal's business

By A Staff Reporter

As the number of stranded Nepal-bound containers at the Calcutta port cross over 500, Nepal Freight Forwarders Association (NEFFA) has demanded the concerned government authority to take immediate initiative in solving the problem. Calcutta port is the major point from where most of the land-locked Nepal’s export and import business take place. 

After more than seven days of strike called by the Indo-Nepal Truck and Trailer Owners Association (INTTOA), more containers are expected to pile up at the Calcutta port as more feeder-vessels bringing Nepal-bound containers reach there. Since the strike is called by a section of Indian transporters dealing with Nepal-bound containers, it has crippled movement of Nepal-bound goods only. 

INTTOA, a newly formed association comprising of more than 200 Indian transporters, called a strike effective from 21 February 2000 demanding among others fare hike by more than 70 percent in the transportation of containers from Indian city of Calcutta to Nepal. The strike has created a very difficult situation for a land-locked country Nepal.

Being a land-locked country, goods produced in Nepal naturally becomes costlier in international market. As such, Nepalese goods will not be able to compete with others in the international market because of this unforeseen rise in the transport costs, a press release issued by NEFFA said.

Because of frequent strikes called on at the Calcutta port, Nepalese industrialists as well as freight forwarders have been facing such problems time and again. Such strikes have caused loss of million of rupees to Nepalese businessmen. Beside that, the country has also to share losses in the revenue collection.

Although, the trucks bearing Nepalese number plates are allowed to ply from Nepal to Calcutta and vice versa according to Indo-Nepal Trade and Transit Treaty, the strikers had damaged many of them when they resorted to violence after two days of strike on 23 February, sources said. The movement of goods which was partly affected on 21st and 22nd February, came under complete halt after the strikers resorted to violence on the third day.

“The government should initiate action to solve this problem. If the government do not initiate action immediately, this will have negative impact on export and import business of the country,” the press release further added.

It also urged the government to request the West Bengal Government to operate railway service from Calcutta to Raxaul as an alternative for smooth facilitation of export and import trade between land-locked Nepal and India.

Norvic-Escorts takes another leap in Neuro-Surgery

By A Staff Reporter

A team of surgeons headed by the noted Neuro-surgeon, Dr. Upendra P. Devkota, FRCS (UK), Consultant Neuro-Surgeon at Norvic-Escorts Health Care & Research Centre, Kathmandu carried out an operation successfully for the removal of Brain Tumor (Pituitary adenoma) through the nasal passage (TRANS-SPHENOIDAL approach). Mrs. Sarala Rai, 32 yrs /F, had been suffering from Brain Tumor for quite some time. Her operation, which took an hour to complete, was carried out which involved the use of sophisticated ZEISS operated microscope and ‘C’ Arm Control (X-Ray Video). The patient is now at post operative ward and undergoing smooth recovery.

Mrs Sarala Rai after operation with Dr. Devkota.

Such an operation is the first of its kind in Norvic-Escorts. However, similar kind of operations were carried out first at Bir Hospital by Dr. Devkota himself in 1989, when such procedures were hardly carried but in this sub-continent.

‘I know my target. I would reach there some day, but I also know it is not that easy’, said Dr. Devkota expressing his happiness after the operation.

This heralds the beginning of advanced Micro-Neuro surgery at Norvic-Escorts’ well equipped state-of-the-art operating suits by Dr. Devkota.

Another feather in the cap was carrying out the Needle Vertebral Biopsy under ‘C’ arm Control (X-Ray Video) on a young lady Ms. Pabita Thapa on 24/02/2000.

Now onwards, such cases would be regularly & routinely carried out at Norvic-Escorts.