Import-export activities halted via Birgunj border
Birgunj, Oct 5: The import and export of goods through the Birgunj customs point, the major customs point in the country, has remained barricaded for some days.
The country is facing acute shortage of petroleum products with the blockade imposed by the Indian sides. The Birgunj entry point itself supplies as high as 70 per cent of the country’s petroleum supply, 80 per cent air fuel and 90 per cent cooking gas.
According to the Nepal Oil Corporation, Amlekhgunj Depot, air fuel for Tribhuvan International Airport and some other domestic airports is also supplied from Raxaul based Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). However, no air fuel was imported through this border point for some days.
Over 2,000 goods-laden vehicles have been stranded along the border side for past 11 days.
Meanwhile, Nepal Oil Corporation, Birgunj Distribution Centre Chief Ashok Sah was taken under control by the protesting cadres of the Madhes-centric parties the Miteri Bridge of Nepal-India border point as he was on his way to IOC office for dialogue to resume the fuel supply.
Sah shared that he was taken under control by the protesting cadres while on his way to IOC office, riding a bike (Na 3 Pa 7166) and was compelled to participate in the sit-in programme of the protesters for a while.
The Madhesi Front leader Pradip Yadav confirmed that they took Sah under their control as he was trying to ease the supply of fuel to the capital city.
Generally, the Birgunj customs office collects Rs 300 million in revenue on daily basis if the imports-exports were normal. However, the office has hardly collected Rs 700,000 rupees in a day. Similarly, the dry port customs office is facing Rs 50 million loss every day due to border barricaded, said dry port customs office chief Devi Bhandari.