Govt downsizing small customs by one-third

KATHMANDU, May 25: The government is making final preparation to reduce the number of small customs to 96 by merging them with main customs in order to bolster effectiveness of major customs where smuggling is rampant.



Officials said small customs offices are becoming ineffective to check smuggling along the porous Nepal-India border due to insufficient human resources and physical infrastructure.[break]



High concentration of trade through main customs points in recent years have rendered majority of small customs useless. There are a total of 143 small customs and 31 main customs points across the border with China and India.



“We have decided to merge 47 poorly manned small customs with nearby main customs keeping into account transportation facility, adjoining market and existing and future trade prospects through those customs,” Tanka Mani Sharma, director general of Department of Customs (DoC) told Republica.



The department is currently doing homework to assess existing workforce at major customs points. After completing its assessment, the department will arrange additional workforce for customs points that need to be strengthened.



Sharma told Republica that Nepal and India during the recently held customs director general level meeting agreed to merge ineffective small customs with nearby main customs.



The DoC is soon submitting the revised lists of customs offices to the Ministry of Finance. The ministry will then forward the list to the cabinet for endorsement.

“We will implement the new set up once the proposal is endorsed,” added Sharma.



Unchecked smuggling of goods through small customs was one of the agendas raised during bilateral trade talks with India.



The government has already deployed 35 additional employees to main customs offices.



“Along with strengthening customs checking system by setting up Border Outposts with required security personnel, we are also conducting close surveillance in the market and taking smuggled goods from warehouses under our control,” Sharma said.



Smugglers are reportedly storing smuggled goods in secret warehouses in the vicinity of major border points.



Meanwhile, DoC has deployed six teams to monitor major customs points across the country. “The three-member teams led by directors of the department monitor regular activities at all major customs,” said Sharma.

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