Industrial operators’ sit-in continues

Rajbiraj, August 21

Industry operators’ agitation in Rajbiraj, Saptari, continued for the second day today.

Industrialists from the Rajbiraj-based industrial estate had evicted staffers from the Industrial Estate Management Office and padlocked it before starting a sit-in at 10:00 am yesterday.

“There are a number of problems at the industrial estate. We had informed the IEMO about them, but to no avail. We had to resort to the padlock after our concerns went unheard,” said Koshi Polymers Industry operator Pramesh Yadav, adding they had earlier submitted a memo to the IEMO mentioning their six-point demand.

The demand paper has sought a separate feeder line for uninterrupted power supply to industrial plants, besides demanding a proper outlet of the accumulated monsoon water. “As even minor rainfall causes inundation, something must be done to end this scourge, and plants and their operators whose equipment suffered damage from excess rainwater should be compensated,” read the demand paper.

The agitating industrialists have also sought an industrial security force. “It’s an industrial estate for namesake only as there are no facilities. We started our businesses by taking a huge loan from banks and now as the IEMO isn’t concerned about our plight, we have no option but to agitate,” said Krishna Food Industry owner Jibachha Yadav.

On his part, Industrial Estate Management Office Chief Dipakraj Acharya clarified that they couldn’t do anything due to lack of budget. The industrial estate was built 24 years ago.