The businessmen of Rautahat started a sit-in from Sunday demanding 'plant quarantine' at the main customs office in Gaur.
The sit-in was started at the main gate of the office under the leadership of Kaushal Sah, a businessman from Gaur. Due to the lack of agricultural and food quarantine at Gaur Customs, the traders of the district are forced to bring goods through Birganj and Sarlahi crossings, said businessman Sah.
Businessmen have been suffering for a long time. We have asked to set up a plant quarantine," he said. "Our demand was not heard. We are forced to sit on dharna.'' The businessmen here had submitted a memorandum to the finance minister under the leadership of Sahkai on March 31st through the head of the customs office. Businessmen claim that 50 percent of the revenue is collected from this title when importing and exporting agricultural products including food grains from Gaur Customs. They say that this is the reason why the demand for agricultural quarantine has been put forward.
Businessmen have drawn attention through a memorandum about holding a peaceful sit-in and demonstration until May 15 and indefinitely locking the customs office from May 16. The businessmen of the district import food grains, fruits, potatoes, onions, vegetables and other goods from India through Birganj and Sarlahi crossings. In this way, the transportation cost is higher when it is brought by a detour route.
The lack of 'plant quarantine' has affected the customs revenue collection, business people say. Businessmen here have complained that they are facing problems in the export of vegetables, food grains and fruits between Nepal and India.
Chief Customs Officer of Rautahat Amarendra Kumar Singh said that he has spoken to the higher authorities about the problems faced by businessmen. Established in 2033, Gaur Customs has not kept 'Plant Quarantine'.
