UDAYAPUR: Asia’s second largest cement factory is situated in Udayapur. But the district’s denizens never get to see sufficient cement in the market.

Most of the cement produced here is exported to other parts of the country through dealers. Merely 400 sacks of cement is made available for the local market, and thus the district faces a chronic cement shortage. A local resident can buy up to five sacks of cement through the local chapter of the chamber of commerce. “We have to stand in queue for more than six hours to get that privilege,” said Krishna Narayan Chaudhary, a local.

Asked why there was not enough supply, Udayapur Cement Factory director general Uddav Karki said, “We supply non-stop across the country and abroad as well, demand is increasing by the day. Therefore, we could not fulfill the need of local consumers.” He assured the problem would be addressed soon.