Over 300 containers filled with Dashain goods stuck at Khasa
TATOPANI, SEP 30 -
More than 300 containers filled with goods meant for the Dashain festival have remained piled up on the Khasa side of the Nepal-China border due to repeated bandas and a protest by importers against investigations conducted by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).
Traders have stopped placing additional import orders as they have not been able to take delivery of the goods that have already arrived at Khasa.
Traders launched a protest against the CIAA and stopped clearing their goods through Tatopani Customs after it took 13 containers under control as part of its probe into possible illegal trade. The importers have expressed willingness to clear their goods through customs, but customs officials are in no mood to get back to work, they said.
Chinese goods imported via Tatopani Customs are in high demand during the Dashain shopping frenzy. Most of the imports from the northern neighbour during this season consist of readymade garments, shoes, bags, electronic goods and decorative goods, according to Rajendra Kumar Shrestha, president of the Sindhupalchok Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The containers have been stuck at the border for the last two weeks, and Shrestha said that if the goods are delayed further, they might miss the Dashain shopping spree. Normally, new goods have to reach the market at least 10 days before the Dashain festival begins. This year, the festival starts on Oct 10.
As the containers released by the Chinese government remain piled up at the border, it has been hesitating to allow entry of more containers. Over 300 containing are backed up for 2 km on the Khasa road. Besides the predicament of the containers sitting on the road, traders face another problem of theft of their goods, said Ram Kumar Shrestha, a transportation entrepreneur.
According to the traders, around 70-80 percent of the country’s requirement of readymade garments and shoes is being fulfilled by imports from China. Some traders have been using porters to remove their goods from the containers and then transporting them to market by smaller vehicles.
Prices of Chinese goods have risen 25-30 percent due to a stronger US dollar and Chinese yuan, and the current problem will drive up prices further, said Nabin Thapa, a trader. As per him, imports through Tatopani Customs reach a peak just before the Dashain festival.
Traders have accused customs officers of not showing any urgency in their official duties. However, Mimanshu Adhikari, chief of the Tatopani Customs Office, said that they were allowing 50-60 containers from China to enter Nepal daily, depending on the availability of personnel to check them and parking space. He added they could do no more due to the small parking yard at the customs.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
