Western region gradually returning to normal

Bandh defied by entrepreneurs in Dhangadhi

DHANGADI, Aug 20: Locals have started to resist the bandhs called by 'Undivided Far West' supporters and those demanding Tharuhat. On Wednesday, thick vehicular movement was to be seen in Dhangadi, Mahendranager, Nepalgunj and Dang. Fed up over the week-long bandh that had begun to paralyze life in the west and far-western regions, business entrepreneurs have taken the lead to keep their areas open. Many schools and colleges and the markets in Jajarkot, Kailali, Jumla, Mugu and Kalikot, among other districts, were open on Wednesday.

"Shops, factories, industrial units, public transport services and various other businesses have come into operation, nudging the district slowly back to normal," said Kamal Raj Chaudhary, operator of Om Traders at LN Chowk in Dhangadi. "Seeing no alternative, we decided to defy the ongoing bandh and try to bring the situation back to normal," he added.

According to him, irrespective of what the locals are for -- divided or undivided far west, for or against Tharuhat -- bandhs are simply not the solution. "Life cannot go on like this. The continuous strikes and shutdowns for 11 consecutive days hit us very hard and we incurred huge losses," he said.

Chaudhary stated that his business incurred losses of around Rs 300,000. "I used to have transactions of Rs 25,000 - 30,000 daily," he informed, adding that it would take more than a month and half for transactions to return to the same level.

Similarly, public transport companies also resumed their service Wednesday. While short-distance transport services from Dhangadi and Mahendranagar to the hill districts of the Far West have come back into operation, long-haul services to the Eastern districts have not resumed yet.

"Transport workers faced the maximum plight. These daily-wage earners were prevented from earning their daily bread," said Devi Lal Joshi, chief of Far-West Transportation Entrepreneurs Association, Dhangadi.

Shankar Bogati, chairman of Kailali chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI), said, "Strikes and shutdowns in Kailali caused losses of more than one billion rupees in total, with daily losses of Rs 100 million. Hence, we have requested everyone to seek an alternative to the bandh culture."

Customers are finally able to heave a sigh of relief as the markets have reopened. "It has become easier to purchase daily necessities," said Mahesh Joshi, a local.

Chief District Officer Ram Kumar Shrestha also acknowledged that life has become easier. "Although the lifting of bandhs has not solved all the problems, life is slowly returning to normal, which is a good sign."

Dhangadi had been facing strikes and shutdowns for 13 continuous days.