RUPEDIA, INDIA, April 2: India has imposed restriction on exports of essential commodities to Nepal ahead of the Lok Sabha (Lower House) elections scheduled for this month. The ban, which came into effect last week, is expected to push up prices of commodities, including rice, pulse and sugar, in Nepali markets.[break]
Groundwater for food security
The Indian customs took the decision citing that the Indian security forces and government employees deployed in the border areas were engaged in making preparations for the elections. “A new decision (to lift the ban) will be made upon completion of the April elections,” said RJ Khare, chief of border security force at Rupedia.
However, local businessmen charged customs officials of using elections as an excuse to impose unnecessary ban on the flow of essential commodities.
“It is unfair to impose the ban on traditionally practiced free flow of essential commodities through porous border between two countries,” Sanjaya Kumar Jayasawal, a trader at Rupedia said.
Nepali people of bordering districts have long been dependent on Indian frontier towns to buy essential commodities which are available at cheaper rate.
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