Work to construct ICP in Dodhara Chandani advances

 Kathmandu, May 11

The government has approved the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report of the Integrated Check Post (ICP) and Inland Container Depot (ICD) to be developed in Dodhara Chandani Municipality, about 725 kilometres west of Kathmandu, paving the way for the development of the trade infrastructure which is expected to contribute to the economic and industrial development in the western part of Nepal, especially in Sudurpaschim Province.

Dodhara Chandani is the only local body that lies across the Mahakali River that marks the border between Nepal and India in other locations.

Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board (NITDB), an agency under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies that has the responsibility to build and facilitate the construction of trade infrastructure, had submitted the EIA to the Ministry of Forest and Environment (MoFE) in early 2021 but it was approved by a ministry-level decision only on April 30 this year.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ himself holds the portfolio of the Ministry of Forest and Environment.

The proposed ICP/ICD will be developed in Gaurishankar Buffer Zone Community Forest in Ward no- 1 of Dodhara Chandani. The MoFE has allowed the NITDB to make necessary preparations for the construction of the facility. Executive Director of the NITDB, Ashish Gajurel, said that the decision had opened the way for the construction of the infrastructure that is key for the development of trade and industry in the western part of the country.

It is expected to play an important role in promoting trade with India and third countries. The ICT/ICP could handle the cargo from and to the Mundra Port in Gujarat in India, which is the shortest route to the Middle East and Europe.

First phase construction to cost Rs. 7 billion

The NITDB has proposed to develop the project in three phases. In the first phase, 63 hectares of land of the Gaurishankar Community Forest will be used to develop the infrastructure.

In the second and third phases, it will use additional land, up to about 280 bighas, in Gaurishankar and Mayapuri Community Forests. According to the initial rough estimates, the first phase would cost Rs. 6.98 billion and is expected to complete in three years while the second phase will cost Rs. 12.37 billion. The third phase is proposed to be developed after about two decades, according to the NITDB.

Likewise, since the second phase of the project is about the development of the railway track, storage of dirty cargo and other goods, it will be constructed in line with the extension of the Indian Railway up to the Nepal border.

The ICD/ICP will have facilities like customs, warehouse, quarantine, workshop, parking, laboratory, bank, administration, canteen, security force, dormitory, and cargo storage. In the initial phase, the facility will accommodate about 500 containers and trucks which will be expanded up to 3,000 cargo vehicles.

The NITDB had acquired approval and consent from the local body, community forest users group and other stakeholders to develop the 'national priority' project.

"To minimise the adverse environment impact in the proposed area of construction, all possible methods like drainage outlet management, safe disposal of garbage and chemicals, rehabilitation of physical infrastructure, and tree plantation will be applied," the NITDB said in a statement on Thursday.

About 1,989 trees need to be cut down to develop the project. To compensate it, the project will plant 150,525 trees in coordination with the Shuklaphanta National Park, the buffer zone community forest users group and the municipality.

 

Govt. seeks Indian support

Meanwhile, the government is holding discussions with India urging the latter to support the development of the facility. Currently, India is preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the project with its own cost. The EIA was prepared on the basis of the master plan of the project.

The two countries are likely to ink a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of the ICP/ICD.

Dry ports at the southern border Birgunj, Biratnagar and Bhairahawa are constructed with the Indian support. Likewise, China has supported the construction of the dry ports in Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi.

  Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 12 May 2023.