November 5: Although the Tatopani customs point has reopened, goods worth billions of rupees are still stuck across the border in China. Nepali importers say that goods worth billions of rupees have been stranded in China for months as only small amount of goods are sent through the border.

Nepali businessmen have repeatedly urged the Chinese authorities to send the goods they have already purchased, but the goods have not arrived from China. According to them, even the goods ordered for last winter were stranded in China.

"The checkpoint has opened but the goods of have not arrived," said Bachchu Poudel, president of the Nepal Trans Himalayan Border Commerce Association, adding, "More than 75 percent of the goods bought by businessmen are stuck in China."

Poudel said that the association had repeatedly requested the Chinese authorities to send the goods purchased by the businessmen but they did not listed to the plea. According to him, only 3 to 4 containers of goods are entering Nepal daily.

According to the new policy of health standards, not all the goods bought by the entrepreneurs have been able to enter to Nepal. According to the Tatopani Customs Office, only 19 containers of goods have been imported as of Wednesday (November 4) after the border reopened.

At present, Chinese containers come to the old customs yard on the Nepal side to deliver the goods. Nepali loaders are allowed to bring the goods only after the Chinese workers return from the site.

Lal Bahadur Khatri, chief of the Tatopani Customs Dry Port Office said that goods are being imported according to the new policy of health standards under which Nepali loaders have to stay in quarantine facility. They have to undergo PCR tests every fortnight to ensure that they are not infected.

So far, only apples and readymade garments have been imported through the customs point, informed Khatri.

At this pace, it will take almost one year for the goods bought by the Nepali importers to enter Nepal, added Khatri.