Illegal operations

SARLAHI: Failure to rein in dozens of sugarcane crusher factories running illegally in Sarlahi has resulted in leakage of revenue worth millions of rupees. There are 65 sugarcane crusher factories in the district, but only four are registered at the Small and Cottage Industry Office, Sarlahi. Surya Kanta Karna, an official at the government office, said a registered crusher factory has to pay at least Rs 30,000 excise duty yearly. None of the factories operating illegally pays tax. Such factories have been causing loss to Nepal Electricity Authority as they commit power pilferage. Most of them run by stealing electricity through hooking. Some of them operate with the help of generators. Birendra Prasad Sah, owner of Ayush Sugar Factory, said the illegal operation of crusher factories is affecting those running legally. Bijaya Kanta Jha, general manager of Indu Shankar Sugar Factory, said that they had repeatedly requested the local administration to crack down on the illegal crusher factories but no action has been taken yet.

Mithila Mahotsav

JANAKPUR: Janakpur is going to host Mithila Mahotsav from March 22-26 to promote trade and tourism of this historic city. The fair to be organised by Janakpur Area Development Council (JADC) will have 44 stalls, said Digamber Roy, JADC chairman, at a press conference organised here on Saturday. He said that the aim of the fair is to make Mithila region known at the national and international level.

Good remittance

RUKUM: This mid-western district may be behind in development compared to districts of other regions, but on the remittance front Rukum is tops. A whopping Rs 50,00,000 remittance enters Rukum daily from several countries. The money comes through money transfer firms based in district headquarters Musikot. The branch office of Western Union Money Transfer said Rs 500,000 comes in daily at its office. Mostly, remittance enters Rukum from Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Malaysia and Qatar, said Gheuman Gharti, an employee of the branch office.