Raxaul residents challenge clinker exports to Nepal

Indian clinker exports to Nepal are facing a challenge from the residents of the border town of Raxaul. They have threatened to prevent Nepal-bound cargo trucks from passing through the customs point from 25 December unless the authorities find a solution to reduce the pollution caused by the transport of clinker.

Most of the Nepali cement factories located in the Bara-Parsa industrial corridor, near Birgunj customs point, import 80-85 per cent of their clinker requirement from India. Clinker imports via Birgunj have been growing rapidly in recent months due to the surging requirement for cement as post-earthquake reconstruction works are accelerating.