Smuggling from Indian side of border internsifies

MAHENDRANAGAR, Dec 2: With the Indian blockade showing no sign of easing and Madhesi demonstrations intensifying further, the smuggling of daily consumer items into Nepal from across the border has picked up in Kanchanpur district.

Locals residing along the Nepal-India border have been largely involved in the smuggling, taking advantage of the scarcities in Nepal.It has only been a decade since the gory Maoist insurgency and people in the bordering areas still live with memolries of fear. Amidst this situation, the illegal trade has emerged as a new problem in Kanchanpur district. And the government is losing millions in revenue.

According to locals, a huge quantity of daily consumer items, mostly edibles and petroleum products, are smuggled into Nepal.

In addition, the porous border between the two neighboring countries has made the work of smugglers easier. Tons of goods and petroleum products enter Nepal across the Mahakali River. Smugglers bring in the goods past the Dodhara-Chandani Municipality area and into Nepal via the suspension bridge over the river.

"Although there are security personnel guarding the border areas, smugglers easily walk past them. Most of the goods smuggled in are purportedly for personal use," said a local.

According to Gaddachowki District Customs Office (DCO), the sub-customs office at the border needs to be renovated to halt the smuggling.

"Three sub-customs offices include a temporary one should be regulated with a stronger security presence. Then only will the situation come under control," said DCO chief Ram Prasad Regmi.

Chandani Sub-Customs, Pachuwi Sub-Customs, Parasan Sub-Customs and Dodhara Temporary Checkpost have remained closed since the time of the Maoist insurgency.

"Every month, at least Rs 20,000 in revenue is collected by Belauri Customs. Our regular monitoring found that over Rs 100,000 in revenue is lost at another sub-customs point," said Regmi.

Meanwhile, he said revenue collection from Gaddhachowki Customs Office has increased due to the import of electrical goods.

"Families are now dependent on electric cookers and other electric devises for the kitchen. Over Rs 100 million in revenue was collected in October," he said.

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