TIRUCHY: The Tiruchy air customs finally cleared the relief materials weighing about 1.5 tonnes, which had arrived from Malaysia and meant for rain-hit Cuddalore district and Chennai people on Tuesday.
It might be recalled that the relief materials packed in 95 boxes include sanitary napkins, dry food, rice, sugar, spices and soaps, had been stranded at the Airport here for want of relevant documents since Friday,
Customs Commissioner K.C. Johnny said in a release that on December 26, Malindo Airlines intimated the customs of the arrival, by their flight on December 25, from Kula Lumpur to Tiruchy, of a consignment stated to contain certain relief materials forwarded by Peoples Foundation Malaysia, a charitable organization, for the purpose of distribution among the people in the flood-affected areas of Chennai and Cuddalore districts.
The consignment was carried by the airlines as ‘rush bags’ without the cover of any transport documents like airway bill. The arrival of goods was not declared in the manifest filed with customs by the airline too. However, they vide letter dated December 26, requested Customs to allow clearance of the goods to a Malaysian passenger Sri. Prakash Marimuthu of Youthink International Foundation, an organisation stated to be a charitable body and based at Chennai, he added.
Johnny further said that Prakash Marimuthu, representing the NGO, who had travelled in the same flight and who claimed to be a charitable organization sought clearance of the consignment without payment of customs duties. Government of India has provided for exemption from payment of customs duties to medicines, medical stores, food stuffs, clothing and blankets imported by bonafide charitable organizations/ Red Cross etc. for the purpose of distribution among the poor and needy and for relief work in case of natural calamities without any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed and race.
While it was necessary for the importer to adduce evidence to prove they are a bonafide charitable organisation, they are also required to get a certificate from the respective district Collectors under the State government. But initially, the NGO did not submit the documents and hence Customs could not release the goods immediately by granting waiver of customs duty, the commissioner said.
Stating that the delay attributed to customs was solely on account of the inability of the importer to obtain the required certificate from the district collectors, he said he had himself therefore taken up the matter with the district collector to avoid further delays.
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