Indian transporters have started shipping power transformers to Nepal from the Kolkata Port since Thursday, after a halt of more than a week due to payment issues.

The transporters had been halting the shipments, citing Nepali importers failure to settle freight and other dues. They have now agreed to release containers of those importers who have regularly paid the charges.

“We had requested the Indian transporters not to halt the consignment of those Nepali importers who have regularly paid the freight charges,” said Vijay Kumar Sarawagi, coordinator of the Import-Export Committee at the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries.

A number of Nepali importers have not settled freight and demurrage charges due to cargo restrictions at Nepal-India border points because of the ongoing Tarai unrest.

Sarawagi said Indian customs clearing agents for Nepal at the Kolkata Port, who had been halting the shipping of Nepali goods for the last 10 days for the same reason, have “partially” released the cargo containers. He said until Wednesday, there were 3,000 containers stranded at the Kolkata port. The agents claimed Nepali traders had over Rs4 billion in unpaid dues, including penalties. They had been saying unless the charges were settled, they would not clear the goods.

There are around 100 Indian customs clearing agents for Nepal facilitating imports and exports at the Kolkata Port.

More than 36,000 cargo containers laden with goods imported from countries other than India enter Nepal through the Kolkata Port annually. Of these, 50 percent enter through Birgunj and Sirsiya Dry ports, while the rest cross the border through Bhairahawa, Biratnagar, and  Kakarvitta, among others.