Shipments through the Bhairahawa customs point have returned to previous levels after a month-long disruption due to strikes and protests which greatly hit revenue collection.

Lawanya Kumar Dhakal, chief customs officer, said the volume of shipments had returned to normal in recent days. “Although only small quantities of industrial raw materials are being cleared through customs, imports of finished goods are on the rise,” he added. The customs point here remained open despite the strikes. According to Dhakal, the joint effort of the local administration, staff and local people besides the cooperation of the Indian Border Security Force made it possible for the customs point to stay open during the banda days. Dhakal said the closure of cement factories in the Lumbini corridor had made it difficult for the shipment of clinker used in the manufacture of cement. However, the finished products are being transported from here to Butwal, Narayanghat, Pokhara and Kathmandu.

According to the customs office, daily essentials like rice, fruit, vegetable, petroleum and medicine were also being shipped on a regular basis.As per customs officials, shipments through the customs point increased particularly during the past two weeks. The Bhairahawa Customs Office had targeted collecting Rs4.36 billion in revenue in the first two months of the current fiscal year. Despite the strikes, the office had been able to earn Rs3.93 billion as of Monday.

The office collected Rs1.97 billion during the  period mid-August to mid-September against the target of Rs2.55 billion. Dhakal attributed the notable revenue collection during the difficult time to the support provided by the security forces to transport trading goods.

Of late, imports of products like iron, rice, petroleum, polythene granule, vehicle, tile and marble have risen. Armed Police Force Deputy Superintendent of Police Kamal Timsina said they had been providing security to traders at their request.