Revenue collection of Jaleshwor Customs declines

By Rabindra Upreti,Bardibas, May 26: The revenue collection of Jaleshwor Customs, the main commercial border of Mahottari, has been continuously declining. 

The revenue collection of Jaleshwor Customs, which was able to collect 182 per cent more than the target in the fiscal year 2021/22, has been continuously declining since then. 

The revenue collection of the customs office for the current fiscal year 2024/25 has been even more pitiful. The increasing target and decreasing revenue collection seen in Jaleshwor Customs have raised many questions.

According to the statistics of the Customs Office, a target of Rs. 3.63 billion was set for the office for the fiscal year 2022/23, but the collection was limited only Rs. 2.81 billion. This was 22 per cent less than the target.

This situation was expected to improve in the fiscal year 2023/24. Due to the impact of the Indian election year, Jaleshwor Customs could not meet the target in that fiscal year as well.

The target set for the fiscal year 2023/24 was Rs. 3.76 billion, but the collection was limited to Rs. 3.25 billion, which was Rs. 510 million less than the target, according to the Jaleshwor Customs. 

This collection was also 13.36 per cent less than the target.

The revenue collection for the current fiscal year 2024/25 is even more disappointing. The target set for Jaleshwor Customs in the current fiscal year is Rs. 4.53 billion.

According to Customs Officer Santosh Gyawali, only 54.63 per cent of the target has been collected by May 23, 2025. The office has collected revenue of Rs. 2.47 billion so far, he said.

With only one and a half months left for the end of the fiscal year, there is little possibility of meeting this target.

According to Gyawali, there are many reasons for the decline in revenue at Jaleshwor Customs. Among them, the reduction in the import of petroleum products is considered the main factor, he said.

Petroleum imported from India's Barauni refinery contributed 55 to 60 per cent to the revenue of Jaleshwar Customs. Based on this, the Department of Customs has also been increasing the target.

Gyawali said that customs revenue has started declining since the Motihari-Amlekhgunj pipeline was commissioned.

He said, "In the beginning, there was something right when only diesel was imported through the pipeline. Since February, petrol has also been imported through the same channel, so the revenue received from petroleum has come to a standstill. Since then, revenue collection has also decreased by almost 50 per cent." 

Apart from petroleum, coal, cement clinker, potatoes, onions, rice, fruits and green vegetables are the most imported goods through the Jaleshwor Customs checkpoint.

Gyawali said that goods, including palm oil and soybean oil are exported to India.

Local traders said that the Department of Customs has been increasing its target every year, despite the declining revenue sources and collection.