TIKAPUR, Nov 10: Tikapur Chamber of Commerce and Industries (TCCI) has requested the officials of Khakraula Small Customs Office in Kailali to step up vigil on illegal import of goods from India.
The team led by TCCI Vice President Surendra Kishwor Giri made the request after field visit of the small customs point on Tuesday.
During the visit, member of the delegation found people bringing goods from the nearby Tikunia market of India without paying customs duty. “We saw people openly bringing goods to Nepal through the customs point without paying any duty. That is why we requested the small customs office to keep an eye on such people,” Giri told Republica.
Smuggling rife at Maheshpur small customs
Following the request, the small customs office intensified inspection of cycles, motorcycles and other vehicles coming from India and collected tax from people bringing goods from India.
With the construction of bridge over Mohana River, the number of Nepalis going to the Indian market to buy their everyday goods is on the rise, leaving Tikapur and other bordering towns deserted. As the small customs office was not tightening revenue collection, traders in Tikapur and other nearby towns were suffering. Also, the nation was losing huge amount of money in revenue.
Though traders of Tikapur have long been urging the office to control smuggling of goods through the small customs, officials they say that they lack human resources to control smuggling.
As most of the key posts lie vacant, assistant-level staff are overseeing affairs at the small customs office. Because of this, smuggling is on the rise and the state is losing huge amount of money as revenue.
Locals say security forces as well as customs officials of being hand in glove with smugglers.
