Kathmandu, January 25
Exports have been nil as more than Rs. 4.33 billion has been collected from Rasuwa Customs Office Timure. This is the figure of revenue received from customs valuation of Chinese goods imported from Rasuwagadhi checkpoint from last shrawan to mid-Poush under the current fiscal year.
According to Chief Customs Officer Ram Prasad Mainali, Rs. 4.33 billion has been collected in the last six months. Since the beginning of the Covid transition, the Chinese side has been delivering goods to the Miteri Bridge in Rasuwagadhi through nine containers daily. The revenue has been collected from traders, businessmen and private companies. Exports to China are zero.
The revenue collection of the two fiscal years has increased almost two and a half times this year. During the same period last year, only Rs. 1.72 billion was collected. According to the customs office, all kinds of vehicles, small and large, hydropower equipment under construction, apples, walnuts, ready-made garments, footwear, children's toys, roll clothes and electrical goods are being imported.
This year’s annual collection target is Rs. 6.81 billion. The increase in revenue is due to the import of more vehicles. It is said that more than one thousand vehicles including zoom crane, tipper, ambulance, microbus, minibus, jeep and car have been imported since last year. Only quarantine workers have been deployed at Miteri Bridge to control the corona infection.
Apart from the drivers and workers wearing PPE, only Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and customs officials will be allowed to enter the place.
By Karuna Thapa
