KATHMANDU- Indian authorities are holding 1,000 metric tonnes of newsprint imported by Kantipur Publications at Kolkata port for the last 26 days. Kantipur is Nepal’s largest publishing house that publishes Nepal’s largest selling newspapers and magazines.
India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has taken control of the newsprint imported from Canada and South Korea and stopped its shipment to Nepal, saying that the 39 containers carrying the newsprint need to be “investigated.”
No investigation, however, has been carried out despite repeated requests. Nor has Kantipur Publications been given a clear explanation for the continued delay, which has meant heavy demurrage and possibility of the newsprint getting damaged.
If the shipment is not released soon, it will put the publication of The Kathmandu Post and Kantipur dailies, and Saptahik weekly in jeopardy.
Asked to explain the reason behind the delay, DRI officials in Kolkata say, “We too don’t know why. Ask Delhi.” This is the first time any newsprint meant for Nepal’s publications has been held in the Indian port for “investigation.”
According to the Nepal-Indian transit treaty, no consignment in transit can be held without explanation.
Generally, the “seal” of containers, which travel by train from Kolkata, is opened upon their arrival at the Birgunj dry port in Nepal.
Altogether, Kantipur’s three shipments have now been held in Kolkata, first of which arrived in the Indian port on May 6.
“For the last one month, we have been asking them to expedite the investigation, if you have to. Despite our repeated requests, nothing has been done to resolve the issue,” the Kantipur management said.
“We have also informed Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and the Kathmandu-based Indian Embassy. We hope the authorities concerned will take immediate measures to resolve the issue.”
Arrival in Kolkata
May 27: 11 containers arrive from Canada (275 metric tonnes)
May 29: 19 containers arrive from South Korea (475 metric tonnes)
June 12: 9 containers arrive from Canada
(228 metric tonnes)
Following is the translation of above text in Nepali that appeared in today’s Kantipur. The English version appeared in today’s The Kathmandu Post.
काठमाडौ- कान्तिपुर पब्लिकेसन्सका लागि क्यानाडा र दक्षिण कोरियाबाट आएको करिब एक हजार मेटि्रक टन न्युजप्रिन्ट विगत २६ दिनदेखि भारतको कोलकातामा रोकेर राखिएको छ ।
समुद्री मार्गबाट कोलकाता बन्दरगाह आइपुगेको पत्रिका छाप्न प्रयोग हुने उक्त कागज भारतको राजस्व गुप्तचर निर्देशनालय- डीआरआई (डाइरेक्टोरेट अफ रेभेन्यु इन्टेलिजेन्स) ले नियन्त्रणमा लिएको हो । छानबिन गर्ने भनेर रोकिए पनि छानबिन नगरी र स्पष्ट कारण नखुलाई ३९ वटा कन्टेनरमा रहेका न्युजप्रिन्ट करिब एक महिनादेखि नेपाल ल्याउन नदिइएको पब्लिकेसन्सले जनाएको छ ।
यस सम्बन्धमा डीआरआईका अधिकारीहरूसँग सोध्दा ‘किन रोकिएको हो, हामीलाई थाहा छैन, दिल्लीमा सोध्नु’ भन्ने जवाफ दिइएको थियो । कोलकाता बन्दरगाहमा न्युजपि्रन्ट राखेबापत महँगो ‘ड्यामरेज’ शुल्क तिर्नुपर्छ भने कागज बिग्रने सम्भावना पनि हुन्छ । समयमा कागज नआउँदा कान्तिपुर, दी काठमान्डु पोस्ट, साप्ताहिकलगायत पब्लिकेसन्सका प्रकाशनहरूको मुद्रणमा समेत निकट भविष्यमा अवरोध आउनेछ ।
कान्तिपुरको १८ वर्षको इतिहासमा तेस्रो मुलुकबाट आएको पत्रिका छाप्ने कागज कारण नखुलाई यति लामो अवधि भारतीय बन्दरगाहमा रोकिएको यो पहिलोपटक हो । अन्य प्रकाशन गृहका न्युजपि्रन्ट पनि यसरी रोकिएको घटना छैन ।
समुद्री मार्गबाट कोलकाता र त्यहाँबाट रेलमा ल्याउने गरिएको न्युजप्रिन्टको ‘सिल’ सामान्यतः वीरगन्ज ड्राइपोर्टमा उतारेपछि मात्र खोल्ने गरिन्छ । त्यसविपरीत पछिल्लोपटक कान्तिपुरका लगातार तीनवटा ‘कन्साइनमेन्ट’ कोलकातामै रोकिएका छन् ।
पब्लिकेसन्सका अनुसार जेठ १३ मा क्यानाडाबाट आएका ४० फिटका ११ कन्टेनर -२७५ मेटि्रक टन), जेठ १५ मा दक्षिण कोरियाबाट आएका १९ कन्टेनर (४७५ मे.टन) र जेठ २९ गते पुनः क्यानाडाबाट आएका ९ कन्टेनर (२२८ मे.टन) न्युजप्रिन्ट त्यहाँबाट ल्याउन दिइएको छैन । नेपाल- भारत पारवहन सन्धिअनुसार ‘ट्रान्जिट’ का सामान बिनाकारण रोक्न मिल्दैन ।
‘छानबिन गर्ने भए पनि तुरुन्त छानबिन गर्न भनेर हामीले पर्खेको करिब एक महिना हुन लागेको छ । तर बारम्बार अनुरोध गर्दा पनि न्युजप्रिन्ट ल्याउन दिइएको छैन, न त त्यसलाई रोक्नुको स्पष्ट कारण खुलाइएको छ,’ कान्तिपुर व्यवस्थापनले भनेको छ, ‘यसबारे प्रधानमन्त्री माधवकुमार नेपाल र काठमाडौंस्थित भारतीय दूतावासलाई पटकपटक जानकारी गराइएको थियो । सम्बन्धित निकायहरूबाट यो समस्या सुल्झाउन अविलम्ब पहल हुने अपेक्षा हामीले लिएका छौं ।’
रोकिएको न्युजप्रिन्ट
जेठ १३: क्यानाडाबाट आएका ११ कन्टेनर (२७५ मेट्रिक टन)
जेठ १५: दक्षिण कोरियाबाट आएका १९ कन्टेनर (४७५ मेट्रिक टन)
जेठ २९ : क्यानाडाबाट आएका ९ कन्टेनर (२२८ मेट्रिक टन)
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Comments
9 responses to “India Stops Nepal’s Newsprint”
I remember when Kantipur was paid 70 crore and deposited in 4 banks in Kathmandu- you know by whom- the very same block. Now the table has turned and true to saying what goes around comes around.
Wagle making a case is flimsy- his sojourn in India is nothing that will break the case. By making Nepal weak- time is to squeeze it is now- thanks to all the pundits and civil society member. It only hurts when it affects you personally, doesn’t it? Did anyone think about the nation-mother of all democrats? No, No, NO.
This showed big brother nature by India. India was giving, is giving and will be giving problem to Nepal one way or the other, at all the times. India needs to learn how to behave to its neighboring countries in a gentlemen way.
Its nothing but a clear result of devided mentality and lust for powere of current so called leaders and political parties through which country has been mentionably weakened and defamed.So,there is other ulternative to avoid this sort of humiliation by powerful neighbour other than not deviding in sole national issues and unity.First of all we must try to united through the policy adopted by late B.P.Koirala.By adopting policy of natiional unity and reconciliation we could be able to face the unwanted problem create by external forces including neighbour of south.Accepting the slavery and enter into 12 point pact in Delhi would be great suicidal act which clear symptom has already been surfaced.So,let us not be foolish by fighting each-other and weakening the nation,strengthening the external power.Jay Nepal !
Dialogue is between international and national communities, in a way they may be thinking to help freedom of press. It would be cheap to call every opponent of Nepal all the time a hindu fanatic.
I am not in favour of censorship but the maobadi ideology of nepalese cuisine needs translations I said that many times. We are not a terrorist nation we are modernizing anti caste system and for more true equality I am not a maoist or in favour of them, but at this stage they are the only sincere politicans we got.
But nonetheless you cannot expect the world to be in favour of Gulag, mental reeducation as Mao did, killings killings killings.
So Kantipur should help maobadi help itself by cleaning up the rethorics. India does not need more Kashmir or Pakistan. There is a COMMON INTEREST in Shanti. People should read more intenational newspapers, India is not the enemhy it is just a neighbouring country with much more money and also other problems, serious problems of poverty and insurgents. One could easily see as already happens how the red corridor would result into a mess. So they want to be absolutely sure we understand each other.
Nepal is a mess and we are manipulated by powers of money we saw that many times, friensdhip relations must be encouraged with northern and southern neighbours there are no ideological differences, Nepal is divided to the bone and will be for longer. Yes this is counterproductive Big Brother ha ha
Make a special we love india weekend issue. Or else?
I remember when Kantipur was paid 70 crore and deposited in 4 banks in Kathmandu- you know by whom- the very same block. Now the table has turned and true to saying what goes around comes around.
Wagle making a case is flimsy- his sojourn in India is nothing that will break the case. By making Nepal weak- time is to squeeze it is now- thanks to all the pundits and civil society member. It only hurts when it affects you personally, doesn’t it? Did anyone think about the nation-mother of all democrats? No, No, NO.
Take about democratic mindset- if its offensive but the truth you moderate. is there any difference between you and gel haired?
It is profoundly disgusting hey China is prohibiting GOOGLE and Facebook because of their human rights politics and tibetian issue and so on now Mother India indifferent to all of us and themselves is going to pack our national Kantipur in their old containers in Kolkota I do not hope their intelligence service is only blunt and dumb.
Where is international solidarity!
Or are they giving a signal to their dalits insurgents it has again nothing to do with the former Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal. I think indian internal problems. Did the editor director of Kantipur or our Government talk to indian government . Then give the real news it is about Terai and no solution for madhesi problem isnt it not just one or another jungle.
Strrrange silence.
We have alternative way of getting prints, yes, you guessed it right, China. If you ask me why, I cannot tolerate India’s big brother attitude against Republic Nepal. Gone are the days of monarchy where you could pay leaders and sign treaty. We want equal and mutually beneficial treaty. We want to revise the existing Sugauli treaty.
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