KATHMANDU: The business community has asked the government to facilitate trade via the China-bordering point of Tatopani in Sindhupalchowk district. After the Gorkha earthquake, the Tatopani trade point is irregular.

Submitting a memo to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Saturday, Sindhupalchowk Chamber of Commerce and Industries, and Nepal Trans-Himalaya Border Commerce Association put for their demand to fully operate the border point. The business leaders urged the PM to take initiative to resume the Nepal-China trade via the Tatopani border point as the businesses were badly affected due to irregular trade through the border and frequent disasters taken place in Sindhupalchowk district.

Outgoing President of Sindhupalchowk Chamber of Commerce and Industries Bed Bahadur Shrestha said that they had put forth their concern for fully operating the point, adding that Tatopani trade point has played a crucial role in revenue collection too. Likewise, hundreds of job losses were reported and laborers laid off due to trade disruption in Tatopani.

Furthermore, PM Deuba was urged to take initiative for disaster mitigation. Sindhupalchowk has become more vulnerable in recent years due to the Jure landslide, catastrophic Gorkha earthquake, Bhotekoshi flood, Jambu and Lidi landslides and most recently Melamchi flood. The delegation also asked the PM to shift the people from flood-hit and landslide-prone areas to safer places.