Valley mayors want prohibitory order to be eased

The Valley Municipality Forum has said that the prohibitory order in Kathmandu valley needs to be loosened. Bidhya Sunday Shakya, who is the president of the forum and also the mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, mentioned that since it had become very difficult for people to earn their livelihoods the prohibitory order should be eased gradually albeit by adopting the necessary health safety measures.

The prohibitory order in the three districts of the Kathmandu valley has been imposed for 43 days now and most businesses and offices have remained closed. People have been stuck at their homes for a pretty long time and there are now some saying that the prohibitory order must be eased and businesses allowed to open gradually from June 15.

Mayor Shakya has said that there must be strict monitoring at the entry points of the valley and life allowed to return to normal within the valley. He said that instead of lifting the prohibitory order at once it would be wise to open up things gradually.

Meanwhile, Prem Lal Maharjan, President of National Consumers Forum, said that certain businesses that deal with consumer goods should be permitted to open but the entry points to the valley should be strictly monitored and public transportation curtailed for some time. Imposing a lockdown or prohibitory order is not the only solution so it needs to be eased, he added. He also mentioned that frontliners must be allowed to work but by adopting necessary heath safety protocols.

Similarly, Pabitra Man Bajracharya, former president of Nepal Retailers Association, also stated that the prohibitory order must be eased from June 15. He said that life had become very difficult for those with meager salaries and most businesses were on the verge of collapse so the prohibitory order must be gradually eased.

Krishna Prasad Dulal, President of Nepal Automobile Dealers’ Association, said that the order must be gradually loosened so that things can get back to normal by July 15. He further added that if businesses are asked to close down for an indefinite period like this then it will massively affect the economy. Meanwhile, Binayak Shah, Vice President of Hotel Association Nepal, said that businesses must be allowed to open by adopting the health safety measures prescribed by the World Health Organisation.

Likewise, Anoj Rimal, First Vice-President of Airline Operators Association of Nepal, mentioned that the airline industry had always followed the government’s directives and it should now allow airline companies to operate flights so as to boost the economy.