Space crunch hurts PIA

Kaski, March 18:

Pokhara Industrial Area (PIA) is becoming congested due to more industries inside the area. There are a total of 60 industries within the industrial area.

The construction of five new industries — Sujal Foods’ powder milk plant, Fishtail Dairy, Global Cable Industry, Pokhara Foods and Pokhara Furniture Industry — has been completed recently.

Annapurna Feed Industry is constructing its plant. Apart from the new industries, the non-operational industries are also occupying space within the industrial area.

Dilip Shrestha, manager of the Industries Management Ltd, said that the industrial area is falling short of space. “The closed industries have also been occupying the space hampering in revenue collection,” he said. Though any firms wishing to operate within the area must develop infrastructure and begin operation within two years, the rule has been not implemented fully.

Industries Management Ltd collects Rs 2.1 million annual revenue from the industries inside the area that was established some 33 years ago. While the government investment within the area is a mere two million rupees, private sector’s investment exceeds Rs 70 billion.