Jhapa. Of the six small customs offices under the Mechi Customs Office, only one is in operation.

Five other small customs stations set up by the government at border points for revenue collection and facilitating cross-border trade remain closed.

The Mechi Customs Office has established Athmauja Small Customs Duty at Gauriganj-2, Gadagalli Small Customs at Mechinagar-2, Bahundangi Customs at Mechinagar-4, Nakalbanda Customs at Mechinagar-5, Satighatta Small Customs at Mechinagar-7 and Mahabhara Small Customs at Gauriganj-1.

Information Officer at the Mechi Customs Office, Kakarvitta, Ishwar Kumar Humagain, said that all the small customs offices except Aathmauja at Gauriganj-2 are closed at present. “The small customs point is in operation but not much customs transaction has taken place,” he said, adding, “The small customs has not been operated as there is not much trade from other border points.” ”

It is not enough to have a customs office for import and export transactions. Quarantine offices are also needed. No other facilities and services are available at the small customs. The Mechi Customs Office is located at Kakarvitta, the eastern gateway. It has a dry port, immigration office, quarantine office and technical check rooms.

The Bahundangi Choti Customs Office at Mechinagar-4 has been closed for the past eight years, said Arjun Kumar Karki, ward chairperson. “We are ready to provide whatever kind of support is required from the people’s level”, ward chair Karki said, urging the local customs operators to operate small customs. We are saddened by the closure of this customs office with a historical background. ”

Recalling that Bahundangi was recognized as the border point even during the Rana and Panchayat eras, he said this was the old customs point for the movement of people from Ilam and Jhapa to Naxalbari and Kolkata of India. The small customs office also owns an old building on its own 13 dhur land. Currently, the ward office is maintaining and painting the building.

Out of the eight customs points, Aathmauja Small Customs is located 75 km west south of the main customs point of Kakarvitta. Fatehpur Bazaar is located in India. Nakalbanda, Satighatta, Mahabhara and Gadagalli Choti Customs Office have its own dilapidated buildings. But there is no big market across the border in India. The Armed Police Force (APF) has been providing security at these border points.