Korala customs operation demanded

By Hari Krishna Sharma,Muktinath (Mustang), Apr. 24: With the demands of strengthening and effective operation of the customs office located in Lomanthang Rural Municipality which borders China in the north, chairpersons of Lomanthang and Loghekar Damodarkunda rural municipalities have reached Kathmandu. 

Despite a year and a half having passed since the formal opening of the Korala border point, the customs office still lacks adequate human resources and physical infrastructure. To address this, Tashi Narbu Gurung, Chairperson of Lomanthang and Lopsang Chhompel Bista, Chairperson of Loghekar Damodarkunda, have informed Janak Raj Sharma, Deputy Director General and Head of Policy and Operations Division at the Customs Department.

According to Gurung, after repeated requests to create an environment conducive to the transport of goods through payment of customs duties went unheeded, he visited the customs office in mid-April last year with a formal decision made in the presence of Chief District Officer Bishnu Prasad Bhusal. 

“We have requested improvements in infrastructure and administrative efficiency, and the response has been positive,” he said. 

During the meeting with Sharma, both Gurung and Bista emphasised the need to replace the current makeshift structure representing the Government of Nepal at Korala.

On the occasion, Gurung also mentioned that they plan to visit other relevant authorities to seek support concerning immigration, development, and security issues at the Korala border point. At present, businesspeople from Mustang are only transporting goods for household purposes through Korala border. 

According to Bista, trade activity has not picked up because the customs, immigration, and animal and food quarantine units remain in temporary and limited operation.

“Even during festivals, we’re unable to conduct proper trade. If staff were merely deployed, it would ease operations,” he said while adding that the Chinese side has also expressed concerns over the delay in infrastructure development from the Nepali side.

Although the Korala border point was officially opened in November 2023, an incident involving the seizure of illegal electronic cigarettes (vapes) in the following month led to stricter regulations, including the requirement of passes for goods transport and entry from other districts.

Situated at an altitude of 4,650 metres altitude, the Korala border point sees locals from Lomanthang, Baragung Muktikshetra, Gharapjhong, Thasang, and Loghekar Damodarkunda rural municipalities bring goods from Tibet's Nechung–Lichi area for sale at the border. 

The private sector believes that if the border point is made fully operational, it could become a hub for international trade, benefiting neighbouring districts such as Myagdi, Baglung, and Parbat.