Bihar News: India and Nepal have a deep relationship for centuries. There is a relation of bread and daughter between these two countries. But, as if this relationship has slowly started getting eclipsed. According to the new rule, customs duty is being charged on goods worth more than Rs.100 bought from India at Nepal’s authorized border (Bhansar). Indian notes of more than 100 rupees are also not being accepted inside Nepal. Not only this, the customs duty on two-wheelers and four-wheelers has also been increased. Because of this, the matter of starting the game of commission in exchange of notes of both the countries is coming to the fore. The citizens of both the countries are deeply troubled by this decision of Nepal. Despite the border between Nepal and India, mutual relations have always been strong, but the ground of relations seems to be weakening now. Due to the Indian currency reaching Nepal from India, the sale of petrol and diesel in Nepal has been stopped by the pump operator. It is being sold only on Nepali currency. Due to this the common people are facing a lot of trouble.
From businessmen to common people worried
In the border area, the people of Nepal buy goods of daily needs from Indian territory. But, now after buying goods worth more than Rs 100 from India and taking them to Nepal, they have to go through a phase of questioning along with paying the fee. Due to this, common people from businessmen are worried. Drivers are now having to pay more money than before for going to Nepal through Kankarbhitha and Galgalia borders of Kishanganj district.
Buying goods in Nepal with Indian rupee is expensive
The game of Mohru-Bharu (exchange of Nepalese and Indian currency) continues unabated on the India-Nepal border. They have reduced the value of Indian currency, where earlier 1600 Nepali rupees were available for 1000 Indian rupees. At the same time, only 1500 Nepali notes are being given, due to which people are finding it expensive to buy goods from Indian rupees in Nepal.
Petrol is not available with Indian rupees at Nepali petrol pump
At the same time, petrol is not available from Indian rupees at Nepali petrol pump. Due to this the problems of Indian citizens have increased. Earlier, petrol-diesel and other essential goods were easily available in Nepal with Indian currency. Now the people going to Nepal especially the people visiting the tourist places of Nepal also have to spend more money than before. People hesitate to come to Nepal to take Indian notes. There is a discount of 10 percent on excessive requests. Notices have been pasted on the petrol pump by writing that Indian rupees will not be accepted.
Increased customs duty on two wheelers and four wheelers
Due to the increase in the customs duty of two-wheeler and four-wheeler, the Nepal government has increased the customs duty on Indian vehicles, due to which the Indian vehicle owners are upset. Earlier, the entry of an Indian two-wheeler in Nepal used to cost Rs 150 per day. But, now it costs Rs 200. Earlier it used to cost Rs 500 on a four wheeler, which is now costing Rs 600. However, the entry fee on goods trains has not been increased. It is being claimed on behalf of the people that large-scale smuggling of one or the other expensive goods is going on from Nepal to India and in return a huge consignment of Indian rupees is reaching there. A decline of 5 to 10 percent is being seen in the Indian rupee. There is a severe recession in the market of the border areas of India. But the sudden fall in the prices of Indian currency in the border areas is a new problem. No one is able to understand the exact reason for this.
The exchange rate of the currencies of India and Nepal has been fixed since 1993 at 160 Nepalese rupees for one hundred Indian rupees. Although the government rate is fixed, but practically the Indian currency remains stronger. That’s why we have been getting up to 162 Nepali rupees per hundred rupees instead of 160 rupees. But for the last four months suddenly this system has been reversed. Now the local exchange people are giving Nepali currency between 150 to 155 rupees instead of 100 rupees Indian currency. Before 1957, the currencies of both India and Nepal used to run in Nepal. After the establishment of Nepal Rastra Bank in 1957, the system of dual currency was abolished there and only Nepali currency remained legal currency in Nepal. And the exchange rate of Nepal’s currency has been increased to Nepalese 160 rupees instead of Indian 100 rupees.
There is a possibility of developing a network of illegal agents.
However, there were changes in the pegging rate from time to time. In 1966, it went up to 101 Nepalese rupees against 100 Indian rupees. But then soon it reached 160 Nepalese rupees instead of 100 rupees Indian currency. Since 1993, the pegging rate of both the currencies is completely stable. There is no such government agency in the border areas of both the countries which provides the facility of currency exchange. It is said that due to this a network of illegal agents has developed on a large scale. Also, the agents fix the rate of currency exchange on their own daily. For the first time in the month of March-April of the year 2023, it happened that the exchange rate of Indian currency decreased in the last thirty years. Many shops in Nepal, especially petrol pumps, have such posters that Indian currency will not be accepted. Now instead of 100 rupees Indian currency, only 150 rupees Nepali currency is given.
People living on the Indo-Nepal border say that many Indians have kinship in Nepal. There is also their business, due to which the people of the border area keep coming and going to Nepal. Indian vehicles have to pay fee on entering Nepal border. The fee is being increased day by day, whereas, there is no fee on the entry of Nepalese vehicles into India. Indian people feel cheated by this. On behalf of the people, there is a demand from the Government of Nepal to take positive initiative regarding this.