The executive committee meeting of the NADA held on Sunday also demanded the Department of Customs to acknowledge the invoices that the vehicle importers have submitted for customs clearance, said Gopi Neupane, spokesperson of NADA. He further said top officials of NADA were planning to hold a meeting with the finance minister and secretary to apprise them of its stance.
The meeting expressed dissatisfaction over the government´s decision of not providing customs clearance certificates to any non-Indian made vehicles. “The vehicles that have no problems with the invoices should be released immediately,” Neupane said, adding, “The decision to detain all third country-made vehicles at the Birgunj customs, whether or not they are guilty, is worrisome,” Neupane added.
Imports of non-India made vehicles have come to a grinding halt since the last three weeks after the finance ministry introduced new import price valuation procedures to deal with the long-running problem of under-invoicing.
A recent study conducted by the ministry had concluded that under valuations of vehicles by up to 50 percent were rampant at customs offices. According to the study, four leading automakers - two Japanese auto giants, a British automaker and a Korean auto giant - were found involved in issuing under-valued invoices.
“Government can take legal actions against those involved in foul play. But all should not be victimized,” he added.
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