Calcutta Customs to tighten vigil on Nepal, Bangladesh borders.

Customs authorities propose to step up surveillance along India’s border with Nepal to check inflow of contraband goods and fake currencies, according to Mr S. Subramanian, Commissioner of Calcutta Customs.

“Large containers on road trailers will be subject to thorough screening by modern x-ray machines at Raxaul, Jogbani and Sanauli,” Mr Subramanian told newspersons.

The vigil is also being stepped up at Panitanki, Changrabandha and Phulbari along West Bengal’s border with Bangladesh and Nepal. He conceded that the increased flow of fake currencies was a matter of concern.

Mr Subramanian pointed out that a new trend of evading duty on imports through Kolkata port had been noticed. For example, old TV monitors and computers were being imported with declaration as new. As per Foreign Trade Policy 2009, imports of all second-hand goods, except second-hand capital goods, are prohibited and such goods are liable for confiscation.

Recently, Calcutta Customs seized a large number of old TV monitors valued at Rs 8.97 lakh. In another raid, old and refurbished computers part, valued at Rs 11 lakh, had been cleared at Chennai by declaring them as new and were seized here. Also, ladies garments were being imported by declaring them as kidswear. The estimated duty evasion was Rs 15 lakh.

As per the Union Government’s decision, Calcutta Customs had started 24×7 operation at Netaji Subhas Dock of Kolkata Docks System , Haldia dock and five containers freight stations – four in KDS and one at Haldia. The 45-day trail period is divided into three phases – delivery of exports for first 15 days, delivery for RMS (risk management system) facilitated import goods in next 15 days and providing facility of assessment and examination for final 15 days.

Central Board of Excise & Customs has fixed at revenue target of Rs 6495 crore for Calcutta Customs for 2010-11 – Rs 5,400 crore from ports operations, another Rs 1,000 crore for airport and the balance Rs 95 for preventive. Till June, the collection from port operation amounted to Rs 1,361.78 crore (Rs 928.60 crore), from airports Rs 230 crore (Rs 184 crore) and from preventive Rs 12 crore (Rs 17 crore).

Mr M.S. Bandhan, Chief Commissioner, Central Excise & Service Tax, Kolkata zone, said the targets for 2010-111 have been set at Rs 6,800 crore for central excise and another Rs 3,200 crore for service tax as against Rs 5,200 crore and Rs 2,800 crore respectively in 2009-10.

Till June, the central excise collection amounted to Rs 1,290 crore and services tax Rs 337 crore. The number of assessees for central excise was around 9,000 and for service tax Rs 64,000, he added.

Source : logisticsweek.com