Jagadamba Cement Industries, whose installed capacity is 900 tons a day, has cut its daily production to 600 tons. Goenka Steels, a leading steel rod producer, said it has reduced production by around 50 percent. [break]
“It is not our choice but compulsion. We are not in position to fulfill even the decreased domestic demands on the back of slow development activities in the country,” said Arun Goenka, proprietor of Goenka Steels.
He also said production of Goenka Cement has also dropped by 40-50 percent.
Reliance Paper Mills, which used to export its products to India until a few years ago, has also reduced production.
“We will have no option but to shut down the factory if the power crisis continues for some more years,” said Shyam Sundar Agrawal, proprietor of the firm. Daily 12 hours of load shedding and unscheduled interruptions have badly hit the production and productivity of the firms operating in the corridor.
These are not some isolated cases. Similar is the plight of other firms in the area. A total of 20 big and 30 small firms are facing tough time due to worsening power supply.
Bidur Dhungana, the general manager of Jagadamba Cement criticized the government for not making alternative arrangement to ensure smooth power supply for factories. “Spare electricity, we are not even getting sufficient diesel for industrial purposes,” said Dhungana.
Bishnu Prasad Sharma of Siddharthanagar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, complained that the government remained apathetic to their demands for power.
Binod Upadhya, the chief of Nepal Electricity Authority Power Distribution Center, said they have not been able to provide more electricity to the firms operating in the Lumbini industrial corridor compared to those operating in other industrial zones.
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