Lack of infrastructure has prevented Kachorwa, Piperpati and Kabahi customs offices from being reinstated. These three small customs offices on the southern border, which fall under the purview of Birgunj Customs, had been dislocated during the 10-year Maoist conflict.

According to Sewantak Pokharel, chief of Birgunj Customs, nine other customs offices in Parsa and Bara districts have come back online, but these three lack buildings to operate out of.

“These offices have always faced infrastructural issues which have been the main hindrance to their reestablishment,” he said.

Out of the 12 customs offices under Birgunj Customs, seven in Parsa (Sirsiya, Janaki Tola, Vishwa, Prasauni, Srisiya, Alau and Thori) and two in Bara (Matiarwa and Simraungaud) are functioning.

Since these offices do not have their own staff, officials are sent from Birgunj Customs. Small offices with proper infrastructure are headed by an administration assistant. Small customs offices located in densely populated areas collect more revenue. In the current fiscal year, Thori Customs collected the highest amount of revenue totaling Rs4.4 million while Simraungaud collected the lowest with Rs4,730,00.    

According to Pokharel, the total collections from the small customs offices in both the districts amounted to Rs16.7 million.  

Thori Customs surpassed the collection target during the Tarai unrest as shipments were transported to Chitwan via the Thori border point. Vishwa and Sisirya customs offices also collect a fair amount of taxes when laden ox carts pass through.  

Problems also arise because of lack of customs offices on the Indian side of the border, Pokharel said. “India has a policy of building small customs offices at only authorised locations,” he said.

“International law requires both countries sharing a border to have customs offices. There are customs offices on both sides of the border only at Vishwa, and the offices at other locations are more like check points than customs offices.”