Nepal

Construction of proposed industrial estate to start soon, says minister

By HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

FILE PHOTO - Construction of proposed industrial estate to start soon, says minister. File Photo: Naresh Krishna Shrestha/THT/File

HETAUDA, JULY 28

Minister of Industry, Commerce and Supply Dilendra Prasad Badu has said construction of Mayurdhap Industrial Estate is due to start soon.

Monitoring the proposed site for construction of an alternative industrial estate in Hetauda today, Minister Badu observed that the facility, once ready, could host the industries to be shifted from Kathmandu. It is important to note that though the Environment Impact Assessment of the proposed project had finished one year ago, the actual construction process had failed to start due to lack of mandatory permission of Parsa Wildlife Reserve.

When asked about the fact that the government had failed to run even the existing industrial estates at full capacity and about the tendency among the industries to only occupy slots in such industrial estate, the minister said the government was committed to finding solutions to the problems.

The minister, talking with the officials of Makawanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stressed the need for industries to run at full capacity. He also underscored the need to revive shut down government industries such as Janakpur Tobacco Factory, Hetauda Clothes Industry and Biratnagar Jute Mill, among others. 'Regarding the resumption of Hetauda Clothes Industry, some fund has been allocated. If the private sector is willing to run it, the government will start the required process for the same,' said the minister.

On a different note, Badu said production of petroleum products in Nepal was possible if the production process cost less.

A version of this article appears in the print on July 29, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.