Bailout for mill

HETAUDA: The government has released Rs 80 million for the renovation of Hetauda Textile Factory and bring it back into operation. Factory general manager Bijay Raj Upadhyay said it would take a few more months for the factory to restart even though the government had set a Baishakh month deadline. He attributed the delay to the delay in releasing the budget. The factory closed eight years ago due to continuous losses and failure to compete with the textiles imported from India. — RSS

Rhododendron fest

MYAGDI: Myagdi’s first rhododendron festival kicked off in Todke of the district on Sunday. The three-day event aims at developing Todke, situated in the centre of dense forests on the border of Kuhu, Pulachaur, Ghatan, Patlekhet and Jhi VDCs, as a tourism destination. Coordinator Tek Bahadur Ramjali said rhododendron of 16 species is available in this area. Myagdi’s eldest citizen, 116-year-old Sarashwoti Rai of Ghatan and CA member Govinda Poudel jointly inaugurated the festival. — RSS

Herb farming

ILAM: Farmers of different VDCs in northern Ilam have managed to earn more than Rs 15 million a year by selling herb products. Some 922 farmers of Sulubung, Maipokhari, Mabu, Jamuna, Chamaita and other VDCs grow herbs in 8,846 hectares of land. To motivate them, a commercial herb processing centre has been built in Sulubung, said Netra Bahadur Burja, chairman of Top Mountain Herbal Producer and Preservation. — RSS

Pokhara festival

POKHARA: Dhampus Laliguras Festival will be held from April 7 to 11 to promote tourism and lure domestic and foreign tourists to Dhampus of Kaski district. Dhampus is situated 23 km north-west of Pokhara at an altitude of 1700 metres. Seven types of rhododendrons are found around Dhampus. Some 16 quality hotels will provide food and lodging facility. Also, villagers will manage their homes to accommodate paying guests at cheap rates. Dhampus, a main entrance and exit for Annapurna trekking route is a major destination for Japanese tourists, said Sam Bahadur Gurung, festival organising committee chairman. — RSS