Birgunj, December 22:

Hit by load-shedding, most industries located in Birgunj-Pathlaiya Industrial Corridor have slashed their production by up to 80 per cent.

According to Birgunj Chambers of Commerce and Industry (BCCI). Acting president of BCCI, Sushil Dhurka, said the industries cannot even meet their daily costs by operating at a mere 20 per cent output capacity. “There is no alternative but to close the industries,” he said.

An entrepreneur said while industries could not operate in their full capacity, they are having to pay full wages to the workers.

BCCI said there was no question of using diesel generators to run the factories as the production cost would skyrocket if they did so. Several trade unions have urged the government to supply electricity to the factories as thousands of workers face job loss should the industries close down.