Kathmandu. It has been proposed that commercial shipping operations will not be allowed without obtaining an industrial operation permit from the Nepal Shipping Office. The proposal was made during a clause-by-clause discussion on the Shipping (Operation and Management) Bill in the Legislative Management Committee under the National Assembly.
Committee Deputy Secretary Numraj Khanal Sharma said that it has been proposed that any person or organization should apply to the office and obtain approval to operate shipping services.
Undersecretary Sharma said that if the necessary conditions are met during the assessment as prescribed, taking into account the economic and technical aspects, managerial capacity and public interest of the industry, the office can grant permission to operate the shipping industry.
He said, “No one can operate shipping services commercially without obtaining an industry operation permit.” No person or organization may operate a shipping service. If any person or organization wishes to operate a shipping service, they must apply to the office for permission as prescribed. After conducting the necessary investigation on the application, taking into account the economic and technical aspects of the industry, managerial capacity and public interest, and evaluating it as prescribed, if the necessary conditions are met, the office may grant permission to operate such a shipping industry. The format of the application for a shipping service permit, renewal, renewal fees and conditions, process and procedure related to granting the permit will be as prescribed. It contains amendments by the honorable members.’
Maniram Bhusal, Acting Registrar of the Nepal Shipping Office, said that legal arrangements should be made for Nepalese to purchase their own ships and operate them in foreign seas. He proposed that the Nepali government should invest 80 percent in ships operating in Nepal, and mentioned that since a single ship costs billions of rupees, the government should invest 80 percent since Nepali citizens are not in a position to invest.
He said, “If we are going to invest 80 percent, it means we should not operate 2/4 ships. If we are going to invest 100 percent, we have to go to the authorities. The investment will come from the state’s resources. By investing 80 percent, it is only seen that our authority has been exercised. If we are asked to bring and register even a foreign ship in Nepal, Nepalis cannot even register it. Nepali citizens cannot even register 20 percent. Because a single ship costs billions of rupees. Therefore, 80 percent of the investment in ships should be by the government.
The government is reportedly drafting a bill to purchase and operate ships in the seas of countries including India.
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