DHANGADHI: Property and vehicles worth crores are gathering rust in government offices due to gross negligence of officials in Kailali district. This is largely because the stationary vehicles have not been sold via auction for several years, thanks to the recalcitrant officials. The Customs Office in the district was compelled to dispose of the unused vehicles as scrap. Consider the case of trucks, which were seized by the Customs Office on charges of smuggling around 11 years ago. Though the manufacturing costs of these vehicles were estimated around Rs 15 lakh each, their valuation has now dipped to a paltry Rs 75,000. While a car, which was seized around two years ago, will fetch only Rs 18 lakh. Initially, it was valued at Rs 60 lakh. To make matters worse, the Customs Office has not bothered to maintain records of property worth Rs 40 lakh. Sunil Shrestha, chief, Customs Office, Kailali, claimed that the notice for the auction could not be issued since the models and chassis numbers were not identified. The authorities have now sought the help of technicians for the valuation of the property. The District Police Office, Kailali, too, is guilty of similar irregularities. A jeep, which was impounded around two years ago, is gathering rust due to lack of initiatives. Altogether, 19 vehicles, including six jeeps, are awaiting official nod for disposal. Likewise, other government offices — like Regional Forest Directorate and Water Induced Disaster Control Office — do not know what to do with unused vehicles. “The auction will be conducted once the technicians help us with the valuation process,” said Rajiv Mandal, chief, Water Induced Disaster Control Office. It is not just that the vehicles but also other seized materials, such as medicinal herbs and timber, that are piling up at the District Court in Kailali. Experts blamed the growing malaise on poor work culture. While, the officials complained of infrastructure inadequacy. Amid the blamegame, property worth crores is going to seed.