Ilam, Nov 20: The sub customs offices in Ilam that were displaced during the armed conflict are yet to be reinstated resulting in uncontrolled revenue leakages.
The traders are using the advantage of the open border in absence of the sub customs offices as the situation has served as a dream vacation for the smugglers.
The Memeng, Chyangthapu, Chiruwa, Banduke, Maimjhuwa and Chabbise sub customs offices were displaced for security reasons during the insurgency and are yet to be reinstated. Among the other displaced sub customs offices, Manebhanjyang and Tumling have been restored, Pashupatinagar Customs Office said.
The failure to restore the customs offices has increased theft and smuggling of readymade garments, construction materials, electronic gadgets, machinery parts and petroleum products. The materials and items imported by evading customs are supplied overnight to Ilam, Paancthar and Taplejung.
There are more than 300 illegal dirt tracks entering Nepal from India at this stretch of the southern border which are regularly tapped by traders to evade customs. The authorities are unable to control the revenue leakage as smugglers use the routes mostly during the nighttime. RSS
