KATHMANDU: Operations at the Mustang Customs Office have resumed following a period of suspension caused by heavy rains and flooding.
Infrastructure damage along the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road section, coupled with power and communication outages, had halted services between Oct. 8 and Oct. 12.
Located in Nechung, Lomanthang Rural Municipality-4, the customs office was unable to process clearances, revenue payments, or quarantine tasks due to the lack of electricity and internet connectivity.
Office chief Bidur Chudal confirmed that services have restarted after partial restoration of utilities. Chudal stated, “It is still not easy, but some work has been done. We are providing services from the office. The suspension of clearances had a direct impact on revenue collection at the customs office.”
Communication networks remain unstable, according to the office. Cargo vehicles cleared by customs have reached Jomsom, though heavy congestion persists at the Korala border point and surrounding areas. With the Rasuwagadhi Customs Office in Rasuwa currently non-operational due to flooding on the Bhote Koshi River, import activity has shifted toward the Korala border.
Goods cleared at the customs office, situated at an altitude of 4,650 meters, are transported via the 186-kilometer Korala-Jomsom-Beni road to Pokhara. While repairs have been conducted on sections in Parbat and Mustang, the road remains blocked at four locations in Myagdi. The Mustang Customs Office collected over Rs 3.08 billion in revenue during the months of Shrawan and Bhadra of the current fiscal year 2083-84.
