Rautahat, September 9

The ongoing strike called by the United Democratic Madheshi Front in the Tarai for the past four weeks has left the industries located in the industrial estates of Tarai districts in tatters. The industries in the industrial estates of Parsa, Bara and Rautahat have been incurring a hefty loss of Rs 640 million on a daily basis.

Around 1,300 small, medium and large-scale industries in Parsa and Bara have pulled down their shutters since the first day of the general shutdown.

Parsa Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Pradip Kediya said that factories located in the industrial estates of Bara and Parsa alone have been bearing losses to the tune of Rs 500 million on a daily basis. He added that the general strike had hit about 100,000 people working in these industries.

“Some finished goods are stuck in godowns while some vehicles carrying raw materials have been stranded at the customs point. Given the situation, how can we operate the industries?” he asked.

Kediya made it clear that they were in no position to resume their industries until the state and agitating parties inked an agreement. He warned that if the shutdown persisted, many industries could collapse. He urged the government to hold talks with the agitators to find a solution at the earliest.

Similarly, due to the ongoing indefinite bandh, many small-, medium0 and large-scale industries have been shut down completely in Rautahat.

Rautahat Chamber of Commerce President Kanthmuni Jayaswal said that industries in the district were incurring a loss of around Rs 10 million per day. Jayaswal added that around 4,000 workers were directly affected by the strike in the district.

Shreeram Sugar Mills Proprietor Diwakar Golchha said that around 13,000 people working in various industries under Golchha Organisation in the plains were hit hard by the strike. Golchha complained that his organisation alone was bearing a loss of Rs 140 million.

Golchha lamented that their loss was hefty as they had to pay the bank interest and employees’ salary. He added that the ongoing indefinite strike in the Tarai had left the businesses in tatters.

Golchha said that they had held talks with government representatives and sought a solution to the current strike and agitation. He informed that they would soon talk to Nepali Congress leaders Sher Bahadur Deuba and Krishna Prasad Sitaula and request them to resolve the problem at the earliest.