Nepal's gov't mulls duty relaxation on import of corrugated roofing sheets

Nepal's government is planning to relax customs duty on corrugated roofing sheets imported from India and China, local media reported Wednesday.

Minister for Industry Mahesh Basnet said the government was preparing to relax customs duty on import of corrugate sheets, realizing that the material could be on short supply amid growing demands from earthquake-hit people, local newspaper Republica reported.

"It seems that domestic industries will meet only around 50 percent of the demand. Ministry of Finance is doing homework on how much duty can be waived off. We will have to make sure that price of imported and locally produced corrugated roofing sheets will remain more or less the same." Republica quoted Basnet as saying.

According to Basnet, the government has already decided to provide cash incentive of 15,000 Nepalese rupees to earthquake-hit people for buying corrugated roofing sheets in rural areas. It is also preparing to step up vigilance and monitoring to ensure smooth supply, quality and stability in price of corrugated sheets.

As monsoon is drawing near, worries grow as many people are still living in the open ground sheltered with only a piece of tarpaulin.

Some projects by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are already in process to help build interim shelters using wood or bamboo together with corrugated roofing sheets. Some villagers are rebuilding homes with materials found in the wreckage.

The Nepalese government estimates that each of the 700,000 damaged home needs two bundles of roofing sheets. Endi