Non filling of EGM

Mumbai, May 23 (UNI) Customs officials today said incorrect filling, non-filling of Export General Manifest (EGM) by exporters were the basic reasons for the delay in processing of their drawback claims and urged Custom House Agents (CHA), Shipping Line representatives to co-ordinate each other to reduce the pendancy.

Speaking at the interative session on the 'Delay in Processing of Drawback Claims' organised by the Indian Merchant Chambers, Chief Commissioner of Customs, Mumbai Port, K M Tiwari pointed out that in most cases processing of drawback claims were found delayed by these two basic reasons.

Mr Tiwari suggested the CHA and Shipping Line representatives to carry out necessary amendments in the claims before putting them before the authorities.

Speaking on the occasion, N Sasidharan, Chief Commissioner of Customs J N Port said there are about 22,000 pending cases of duty drawback claims, and the pendency is not high as compared to the receiving of an average 32,000 drawback claims per month, approximately valued at Rs 1,000 crore.

Mr Sasidharan said the Customs department has been working out on online system indicating a status report, in order to bring down the delay in processing of the drawback claims.

''We are at the discussion level for creating a software and may introduce the system in some time,'' he said.

Representatives of exporters, CHA and Shipping Lines attended the session urged authorities to further simplify procedures involving heavy documentation in filling drawback claims.

UNI