KATHMANDU, Dec 30: The Department of Customs (DoC) has launched a central monitoring system in 14 customs offices in a bid to check anomalies at the main gateways of the goods transacted internationally.
According to the DoC officials, the concerned customs offices are now under surveillance of the main authority to monitor real time activities with this system put in place. This system is also expected to check the slow customs clearance process that has been hitting the traders hard for long.
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Customs officials are often blamed for taking bribes in order to ensure faster clearance even for legitimately imported goods. Traders have been complaining that slow customs clearance is one of the major reasons for them to pay detention charges. In addition to this, revenue leakage through the practice of under invoicing is also equally rampant in imported goods due to lack of an effective monitoring system in place.
Suman Dahal, Director General of the DoC, said the system will enable the central authority to instantly question the on-site officials if any suspicious activities come to their notice. This central monitoring system has been put in place as a part of its customs reform programme.
Since last year, the DoC has installed the computerized customs management system known as ASYCUDA (Automated System for Customs Data) World at 24 border crossings. In 2011, the government began installing the system at major custom points with the support of the Asian Development Bank.
