BIRGUNJ:Transport entrepreneurs disrupted the import of goods through the Birgunj Customs Point for the second day today. Transport entrepreneurs started the agitation yesterday after the implementation of the decision of the finance ministry to ferry goods from Birgunj point to Kathmandu only through containers.

Import of all the goods was halted except the petroleum products, gravel, vegetables and fruits. The agitators had indefinitely padlocked Gate No 2 of the customs point yesterday.

“This provision of ferrying goods only in containers was implemented on April 14 after legally imported goods were mixed with smuggled ones,” said customs officer Kebal Prasad Bhandary. Bhandary added that the provision would be an advantage for the transport entrepreneurs since the goods sealed in the containers could not be checked by others except the revenue officials. Several trucks have been stranded at the customs office due to the protest.

Meanwhile, talks held between the transport entrepreneurs and the officials of the Birgunj Customs Office this morning ended inconclusively. Agreements could not be reached between the two sides, as they disagreed on the demand put forth by the agitators to roll back the decision made by the finance ministry. “The new provision of supplying goods only in containers will put our investment at risk,” regional vice-chairman of Narayani Transport Entrepreneurs Organisation, Binod Manandhar said.

The transport entrepreneurs claimed that the leakage of revenue could not be controlled just by sealing goods . They also said there were many reports of illegally imported goods through the Tatopani Customs Point even after the provision of only allowing sealed goods.