Tomato price up

KATHMANDU: The price of tomatoes has skyrocketed these days due to a fall in its production. The price of tomatoes has reached Rs 40 to Rs 60 per kg these days. Until 20 days ago, its price was just Rs 15 to Rs 20 per kg. According to Kalimati Vegetables and Fruits Development Committee, import of tomatoes in the capital has drastically decreased for the past two weeks. Tomatoes in the markets of Kathmandu are imported from Dhading, Chitwan and Kavrepalanchowk including India.

First among offices

BANKE: Inland Revenue Office, Nepalgunj, has come first among the 22 inland revenue offices throughout the country in terms of highest revenue collection in the current fiscal year. Tax officer at Nepalgunj Inland Revenue Office Shiva Kumar Katuwal said the office collected revenue Rs 435,601,000 from mid-July to mid-March in the current fiscal year — eight per cent more than the targeted Rs 408,239,000.

Cement banned

BHADRAPUR: Ban on the import of cement manufactured in India is likely to impact revenue collection here. The Cottage and Small Industries Office, Bhadrapur, has banned the import of the Himali Premier, Himko, Satabdi and Bengal Super Company brand cement manufactured in India saying these brands of cement are substandard. Mechi customs office said the revenue collected from the import of Indian cement has decreased following the ban on its import. It had collected revenue Rs 90,655,000 from the import of Indian brands of cement the last fiscal year whereas revenue of only Rs 33,277,000 was collected under the same head this fiscal year.

Tourism prospects

MYAGDI: People in Maygdi district are attracted towards tourism trade with the beginning of the tourist season. There are bright prospects for the tourism industry in Myagdi due to the district’s natural beauty and geographical location. People in the district have been attracted towards the tourism trade with the increase in the number of foreign and domestic tourists visiting their district and growing tourism activities. President of Beni Hotel Entrepreneurs’’ Association Bimala Gauchan said the number of investors is growing. Locals have come forward to construct various tourism infrastructure at different tourist destinations in the district, Gauchan said.

Tractor import on rise

JHAPA: The import of tractor in Mechi zone from India has gone up of late. The import went up after the government decided to provide subsidy in VAT on import of tractor for agricultural purpose. The Transport Management Office, Mechi, said 383 tractors have been imported within the first seven months of the current fiscal. Last year, 379 tractors were imported in 12 months, according to the chief of the office Chhabi Prasad Rijal. At present, the government imposes only five per cent customs

duty on import of tractors. Import

of tractor for other purposes than agriculture is subjected to 13 percent VAT. In 28 years after the establishment of the Mechi Customs Office, 1,770 have been imported via

the customs point.