BIRATNAGAR: The increasing duration of power-cut has had an adverse effect on industries in the Morang-Sunsari industrial corridor. Industries there remain shut for two days a

week since NEA published

its new load-shedding schedule. The industries are suffering a loss of Rs 50 lakh daily due to the closure.

Industrialist Nandu Rathi said the industries are hit hard as the policy of ‘no work, no pay’ is yet to be implemented. Earlier, the industrial area was experiencing 45 hours of power cut a week and making up for the shortage of power with generators. Now, they have difficulty in managing power supply after NEA increased the load-shedding hours.

Morang Industries Organization member Rakesh Surana said they failed to use the stored raw materials and supply goods as per the demand. He added, “It is difficult to pay the workers and pay interest to the bank.” Industries in the area had

managed separate circuit to manage power supply,

but it has become fruitless. Stating that they are in no condition to pay the workers while using generators 24 hours, Rathi said, “There is no option but to shut the industries if the situation lngers.”

The industrial hub is experiencing 48 hours power cut weekly. Mainly jute, plastic, iron, chemical and food industries are affected badly. Alleging that the government was not serious about the development of the industrial sector, Morang Trade Union chairman Mahesh Jagu demanded the government manage alterative energy for the industrial sector. Aeound 500 industries in the area are degrading due to problems like frequent strikes, power cut and insecurity. Jagu added, “We are thinking of handing over the keys of the industries to the government.”

The entrepreneurs lamented that their business hit hard as 50 Megawatt electricity that has been supplying from Katiya of India is

also being supplied to other districts also. They also demanded to use the electricity in the corridor area only.

There is demand of 75 Megawatt electricity in the corridor area but there is only supply of 60 Megawatt electricity in the area.