Bandh hits industries in Morang-Sunsari corridor

Bandh hits industries in Morang-Sunsari corridor
ArthaExpress.com, 17-Feb-08

Indefinite bandhs in Tarai has hit Morang-Sunsari corridor industries hard as they have incurred loss of more than Rs 1000 million.

“The industries in the corridor are incurring a loss of Rs 250 million per day,” the Morang Trade Association (MTA) said. “Eighty per cent of industries in the corridor are already closed due to Tarai bandh,” MTA acting chairman Mahesh Jaju said, adding that some industries at Khanar in Sunsari and Tankisinwari in Morang are operating under a heavy security provision.

“The industries that produce jute, noodles, thread, plastic, soap, biscuit and the rice mills are directly hurt by the bandh,” industrialists said.

“The industries producing consumer goods are hit by the bandh hard,” MTA first vice chairman Moti Dugar said adding that condition of the industries will even worsen in the days to come.

“Condition of jute industries is the worst due to indefinite bandh,” proprietor of Swastik Jute Industry and FNCCI central member Champalal Rathi said.

However, the closure of industries has put less burden on Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and it has reduced hours of load shedding in the eastern region.

“As the consumption of electricity has decreased following the closure of industries, load shedding hour has been reduced,” chief at NEA Duhabi Grid, Rajendra Mishra said, adding that the daily seven hours of load shedding has been reduced to four to five hours only.

There is a daily demand of 95 mega watt of electricity in the eastern development region. “And the Morang-Sunsari corridor consumes 40 mega watt,” NEA source said.