Himalayan News Service

Hetauda, February 2

Industrialists and businessmen of the district have been demanding that the district be declared as an industrial district for the past one decade. Businessmen have said that if this was done, they would receive government protection, have a better balance between tax and revenue and receive special facilities.

Madhav Risal, chairman of Makwanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), informed that MCCI has been preparing a detailed project report (DPR) for the declaration, which is in its last phase. Chairman Risal said that industrialists have not been motivated to invest further due to lack of reasonable industrial policies.

Four-dozen industries established in the biggest industrial estate, the Hetauda Industrial Estate (HIE), would get additional facilities after granting the district the status of industrial.

The Water Recycling Plant in HIE, established with a total investment of Rs 500 million, would boost the process of declaration, Deepak Prasad Shrestha, general secretary of MCCI, said.

Makwanpur should be declared as an industrial zone, as it would be easy to import raw material from India to Makwanpur and the environment, area and geographical formation of the district also allows for better business conditions. Industrialists said that Makwanpur is a district with better exporting prospects to India and third countries via land and air routes.