INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Durbar Marg shops to open from today
Other traders, businesses also defiant
KATHMANDU, JUNE 3
With no end in sight to the nationwide
lockdown imposed on March 24 that has effectively halted all economic activities for the past two-and-a-half months, traders, firms and
industries have begun defying restrictions and resuming their operations.
Clampdown on market activities and movement of people seems to be
having little effect, as the coronavirus has spread rapidly, with a spike in the number of cases in recent weeks
Stating that the government has hardly done anything other than extending the lockdown and deepening their hardships, traders and businesses
have gradually started defying the lockdown.
In fact, streets that used to be deserted a fortnight ago have started witnessing jams as
mobility of people and vehicles has gone up in the recent days
Moreover, retail shops across the valley have reopened for business.
A number of convenience and department stores and other retail outlets
in Jorpati, Chabahil, Gaushala, New Baneshwor, New Road and Ason were open since early this morning.
&We patiently supported the government
by following lockdown rules for more than two months
However, the government has not come up with a plan to ease restrictions and let economic activities resume gradually as done by other
countries,& said Anuja Pokharel, a wholesale dealer of mobile accessories in New Road.
She added that she was following social distancing
rules at the shop.
Even traders at Durbar Marg — a major tourist destination — have decided to gradually resume operation from tomorrow
A meeting of Durbar Marg Development Board took a decision to this effect yesterday.
&Though we had repeatedly urged the government to
change the modality of the lockdown and allow businesses to operate, the government has done nothing on that front
We have to restart our services to ensure sustainability of our lives and businesses,& said Rajesh Shrestha, first vice-president of the
board.
Today, the National Federation of Trade and Commerce of Nepal decided to operate shops and other businesses across the country till
11:00am every day from tomorrow by adopting necessary precautions against COVID-19.
In case the government halts their operation, it should
be responsible for financial liabilities of traders/ shopkeepers, including bank loan, rent and taxes, Anjan Shakya, general secretary of
the federation, told THT.
The government last week extended the lockdown till June 14
A few days ago, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry had requested the government to review its lockdown extension
decision and change the modality of the lockdown to allow enterprises and the market to gradually reopen.
Though government officials have
been saying that discussion is under way to change the modality of the lockdown and allow economic activities to resume gradually, the
government has not taken any decision in this regard so far.
A version of this article appears in e-paper on June 4, 2020, of The Himalayan
Times.
The post Traders defy lockdown as patience runs thin in Nepal appeared first on The Himalayan Times.
