In a bid to facilitate movement of relief supplies sent by foreign governments and agencies like Red Cross and UN to quake-hit Nepal, New Delhi has waived security deposits and increased transit points from two to eight. This assumes significance as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken to his Nepal counterpart Sushil Koirala at least twice in the past month and assured all possible assistance. PMO officials including National Security Advisor Ajit K Doval and Additional Principal Secretary to the PM P K Mishra had also visited Kathmandu recently. According to officials, the government had received requests from international organisations and other countries for facilitating movement of relief supplies to Nepal. [related-post] “The government examined these requests and it was decided that in order to enable expeditious and smooth clearance of the relief supplies for onward movement to Nepal, a simplified procedure of transit clearance would be put in place,” a South Block official, privy to the arrangements, said. So, the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) under the Finance ministry has notified a “simplified transit procedure” for transit of relief cargo to Nepal. This procedure would be applicable for six months and could be further extended for a period mutually agreed upon by Indian and Nepal governments. The simplified procedure would be applicable to goods of international relief agencies or governments authorised by Nepal government or its Embassy/Consulate General in India. The donor government or agency has been given the option to file the simplified declaration of transit on their own in case they opt not to engage the Customs Broker. It has also been decided that no bond, security or bank guarantee, which are normally taken for transit cargo to Nepal, would be taken for relief materials. As per the India-Nepal Treaty of Transit, transit of cargo is allowed only through Kolkata and Haldia Ports. Now, this has also been allowed at Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Patna, Kolkata and Bagdogra airports.
