The main customs point with China, Tatopani Customs, which has been collecting billions in revenue annually, has seen its import trade come to a complete halt for the past one and a half weeks. Although landslides at various points along the 26-kilometer Bahrabise–Tatopani section have blocked the road and stopped trade, no effective efforts have been made to reopen it.

After the road was blocked, containers carrying goods worth millions that had entered Nepal from the border area have been stranded on the way. As food items like apples and garlic have started to rot, they are being carried to the customs yard. Traders have also expressed concern over the lack of security for goods worth millions stranded on the road.

Not only in Nepal, but goods piled up in Chinese warehouses and roads are also facing problems entering Nepal. Accusing the government of insufficient efforts to reopen the road, business associations such as the Sindhupalchok Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Nepal Himalayan Cross-Border Commerce Association issued a statement on Saturday, alleging that the government has neglected the problems at the northern border.

Business associations have expressed written outrage at the government, saying it is only interested in collecting more and more revenue from the customs point and does not want a permanent solution to facilitate trade.

A tender was called and work had begun last fiscal year for the repair of that road section. However, the government canceled the contract with the Nepali contractor company last Baisakh, saying the Chinese government would build the road. Even though the contractor had already started work, the government paid 5.4 million rupees for the canceled work. The tender had been awarded for 484.9 million rupees. Locals say, “If the contractor had been allowed to work, this situation would not have arisen.”

According to Narayan Datt Bhandari, chief of the Charikot Road Division, the contract was canceled after the Chinese side gave assurances that they would sign an agreement and start work within a week. The Road Division canceled the contract as per their assurance and the government's directive. However, the Chinese side has not made contact so far (four months). Bhandari said that the division office does not have the capacity to carry out the work, as minor repairs are not enough to operate the road.

Although the process started in Baisakh, work to clear the landslides and resume transport on that road section has not even begun. Locals say that due to landslides at Daklang, Ghattikhola, and Iko on the road, not only vehicles but even pedestrians are having difficulty passing. The settlement on the upper part of the road is being pulled by landslides, while the lower part is being eroded by the Bhotekoshi River.

Locals have vented their anger, telling government employees to take responsibility for their homes before building the road. “They have asked the officials to take the keys to their houses, saying that clearing the landslides puts the settlement at risk,” say road staff. Last year, the road was reopened after reaching an agreement with locals. “If the Nepali contractor had been allowed to build it, some prevention would have been done,” said a road technician. “Despite our suggestions, the contract was canceled, and now we are suffering the consequences.”

Last year, 14.52 billion rupees in revenue was collected from this customs point, and the revenue target for the current fiscal year has been set at 25 billion. According to Tatopani Customs Chief Dipendra Prakash Giri, the revenue target for Shrawan alone this year was 1.76 billion, but only 289 million had been collected as of Friday.

Although the volume of import trade increases during the festival season, such problems arise every year when the road is blocked. Due to the road closure, even electric vehicles (EVs) that arrived at customs have been halted. “Not only trade, but even movement has become difficult,” said Customs Chief Giri.

As the road connecting this customs point is blocked every year, import trade with China has been affected. Last year too, when the road was blocked at the same place from Asar to Asoj, goods imported for Dashain and Tihar could not enter Nepal. Businesspeople suffered losses of millions of rupees. Buddha Raj Basnet, president of the Sindhupalchok Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that nearly 150 containers are stuck at the border. As fruits started to rot, they have begun carrying them to the customs yard, Basnet said.

He complained that the government’s focus on revenue collection while never considering the problems of businesspeople has caused them to suffer. After being closed for four years following the 2015 earthquake, trade through the reopened Tatopani border has not been smooth.

Especially ready-made garments, heavy equipment for hydropower projects, agricultural tools, bags, shoes, slippers, stationery, furniture, toys, fruits, cosmetics, seeds, electric vehicles, computer parts, and raw materials for industries are imported through the Tatopani border, which is considered the shortest and easiest northern route.

“Many consumer goods found in the Nepali market are imported from China,” said Ram Chandra Parajuli, General Secretary of the Cross-Border Association. “But the government does not seem to be paying attention to making the border point easier. This has caused businesspeople to suffer.” He said that many businesspeople have been financially devastated by facing hassles every year.