Kathmandu. The service at Birgunj Customs Office, the country’s largest importer of goods, has been affected for the past one week. The government has not been able to clear customs clearance of petroleum products, industrial raw materials, vegetables and fruits for the past one week as the government has tried to implement the mandatory maximum retail price (MRP) on goods coming to the customs point.

Importers and exporters have not participated in the customs clearance process since April 29. Due to this, the number of cargo vehicles stopping towards Raxaul of India is increasing. Udaya Singh Bista, information officer at the Birgunj Customs Office, said that the checking process of around 1,400 vehicles on an average has been halted as more than two hundred cargo vehicles are added every day.

“We are ready for customs clearance. However, the customs clearance has been halted as the importers have not been involved in the procedural tasks from filling up the form to announcing the customs clearance,” he said. We hope that this problem will end soon. ’

The government had decided to impose the maximum retail price (MRP) of imported and exported goods from April 29. However, importers and exporters have been opposing this provision. Ganesh Ghimire, in-charge of TRS Himalayan Lorgy Park Pvt Ltd, which has been entrusted with the responsibility of managing the Integrated Security Customs Check Post in Birgunj, said that there is a queue of cargo vehicles even on the Indian road due to lack of customs clearance. “We want the current problem to be resolved as soon as possible,” he said.

The Birgunj Customs Office has been collecting Rs 500 to Rs 600 million in revenue every day. Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Hari Prasad Gautam urged the government to resolve this problem by carrying out necessary coordination as it would not be beneficial for both the state and entrepreneurs if it persists for long.