Situation at airports, ports precarious, say exporters

Exporters have raised serious concerns over 100%t examination of all containers coming from China and Hong Kong at all airports and seaports, including Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai, saying the move is causing inordinate delay in clearance of import consignments.

They have urged the government to give instructions to Indian customs authorities to fast-track the clearance of these import consignments.

The development assumes significance in the wake of increasing border tensions between India and China. The Indian and Chinese armies are locked in a bitter stand-off at multiple locations in easter n Ladakh for the past six weeks, and the tension escalated manifold after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a violent clash in the Galwan Valley on June 15.

In a letter to Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Chairman M Ajit Kumar, Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) Chairman A Sakthivel have urged for expeditious clearance of import consignments as undue delay is impacting operations of the domestic industry.

He said that lately, customs authorities are doing 100 per cent examination of goods originating from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

"This has created undue delay in clearance of imported shipments of inputs which are meant for manufacture of garments for exports. It is affecting factory operations as inputs are held up at ports and exporters are in fear that they will fail to meet the delivery schedule," Sakthivel said.

He added that as the business is gearing up to get back to the normal, such delays in clearing the import consignments from China were adding to the crisis.