MANGALORE: Mangalore Customs Commissionerate which is observing International Customs Day and 50th year of Customs Act, 1962 on Thursday has done well on the revenue front. The commissionerate has collected customs duty of Rs 500 crore and is set to achieve the target fixed.
Major revenue is collected from crude oil, fertilizers, coal, timber and LPG. During 2011-12, export consignments worth Rs. 19877 crore have been exported from Mangalore.
After Independence, the Sea Customs Act, India Aircrafts Act, Land Customs Act and other allied enactments of the British era were repealed by a consolidating and amending The Customs Act, 1962 which was notified on December 13, 1962 and came into force with effect from February 1, 1963.
Therefore, the 50th year of The Customs Act begins on February 2 and culminates on February 1, 2013 as this milestone will be observed.
International Customs Day is celebrated on January 26 every year.
In consideration of significant role that Customs has been playing in nation building through revenue collection, trade facilitation and safeguarding economic integrity of the nation, the Commissionerate is celebrating the above milestone along with International Customs Day on Thursday. Latha R Kini, president, KCCI and Giselle D Mehta, author will be chief guests on this occasion.
This year, the World Customs Organization has decided to dedicate International Customs Day with the theme "Borders Divide; Customs Connect". WCO has stated that borders are synonymous with division and main challenge for WCO members is to find best methods to increase connectivity, which refers to people-to-people, institutional, and information linkages that underpin and facilitate the achievement of customs' main goals.
To augment its anti-smuggling operation, this Commissionerate has acquired speed boats. At present there are three customs patrol vessel of category 1, two customs interceptor craft of Category II and two customs patrol tender of Category IIIA that are stationed here and at Karwar.
They are equipped with advanced technology equipment for purpose of navigation, communication and surveillance and are used for sea patrolling along Karnataka coast.
Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com