Jan 13, Kathmandu- The no quarantine service at the Mahakali customs office in Jhulaghat, the western border, has created a situation where you have to show your marriage card when bringing vegetables. Not only quarantine at the border checkpoint, but Nepali security personnel also do not have any equipment such as screening to check other items. The problem became even worse when the exchange counter at Jhulaghat was closed. The exchange counter was closed during the conflict.

The border checkpost on the Indian side has the same security arrangements as an international airport. There are digital screening machines, trained dogs, and human resources deployed there. At the security post on the Nepal side, only a table, register, and dot pen are visible in the name of technology. 

Baitadi Chief District Officer Dirgharaj Upadhyay said that quarantine and digital screening machines are required at the Jhulaghat border checkpoint. He said, "There is a Mahakali Customs Office at the checkpoint, but there is no quarantine. Due to the lack of quarantine, the quality and pesticide testing of food items imported from India has not been able to be done. We have already informed the department that technical staff and equipment are required."

Senior Deputy Inspector Gangaram Tamta, in-charge of Jhulaghat Border Police Post, said that during the wedding season, vegetables are allowed to enter if the card is shown. 

He said, "During the wedding season, we allow vegetables to enter only after checking the card. Vegetables are not imported commercially. Earlier, ghee was imported from Nepal. Recently, daily necessities for household purposes have been imported from India. Agricultural produce is not exported from Nepal to India."

The number of people going to India for employment through the Jhulaghat border checkpoint has increased. Two hundred Nepalis go to India from here daily. According to the statistics of the Jhulaghat Border Police Post, 2,500 Nepalis have gone to India from Paush 1 to 27. Among those going to India for employment are women. In Poush alone, 846 women have gone to India.

505 Indian citizens have come to Nepal from India through the Jhulaghat border in the month of Poush for shopping and temple visits. Out of the 505 who entered Nepal, 376 have returned. Other Indians have been found to be staying in the Baitadi district headquarters for hair cutting and making Sirak Dasna.