Hetauda, October 6

With the blockade at the border persisting, industries on the premises of Hetauda Industrial Estate have been forced to down their shutters owing to shortage of raw materials.

According to Industry Association Makawanpur Chairperson Rishiram Ghimire, all 82 industries in the estate have shut down from Friday after they ran out of the raw materials and necessary chemicals that they have to import from India.

“As the machines and required chemicals are India-manufactured and 90 per cent of the raw materials are also brought from India, there is no question of running the industries with local resources,” said Ghimire, estimating a daily loss of around 30 million rupees as a result of the closure.

While seven industries in the estate were preparing to launch their business, yet other 10 were being constructed. The crisis has also not spared Uniliver, Asian Paints and Berger Paints and other industries of Hetauda running with Indian investment in the estate.

On the other hand, the ongoing fuel crisis has hit the transportation sector and the public at a time when the biggest festival of the Hindus is just round the corner.

“It’s the time when people travel and purchase for Dashain, but the fuel crisis has dampened everything, not to mention the fact that they’ve broken the back of the transportation industry as well,” said Narayani Transportation Entrepreneurs Association Hetauda Chairperson Badri Prasad Chaulagain, adding, “Only 25 per cent vehicles are plying presently.”

According to Chaulagain, who identified the sector as the worst hit, it is facing a daily loss of around 25 million with more than 5,300 vehicles affiliated to the association lying idle.