SATV, Kathmandu, Aug. 06 - Industrialists and entrepreneurs seeking to establish new industries in Nepalgunj have been facing difficulties due to the shortage of land in the Nepalgunj Industrial Estate.
The only industrial estate in Banke district, established in 1973, has already reached its full capacity, leaving no space available for new industries.
According to Pradeep Parajuli, Chief of the Nepalgunj Industrial Estate Management Office, the estate has the capacity to accommodate 35 industries, and all plots were allocated to industries long ago. As a result, new entrepreneurs have been unable to set up industries within the estate despite their interest.
He said the problem has become more acute because the Naubasta Industrial Estate, which has remained under construction for nearly a decade, has yet to come into operation. Although progress has been made in resolving land-related disputes, allowing construction to move forward, it is unlikely to be ready soon.
With no space available in the existing industrial estate and the new estate yet to become operational, industrialists have been compelled to purchase private land to establish their factories. They say this has significantly increased the cost of setting up industries.
Tanka Dhami, President of the Nepalgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said investors from Nepalgunj and neighbouring districts have been forced to buy expensive private land around Janaki Rural Municipality and along the Nepalgunj–Kohalpur road corridor after failing to secure plots in the industrial estate.
He added that, despite repeated requests to the relevant authorities to expedite the construction of the Naubasta Industrial Estate, little progress has been made. According to him, the lack of industrial infrastructure has made it difficult to attract new investment to Banke.
Industrialist Krishna Prasad Shrestha also said he had been informed that no land was available when he sought to establish an industry in the Estate. He complained that private land is prohibitively expensive, making it difficult to invest in new industries even when there is strong interest.
Due to the shortage of industrial land, Ganapur in Ward No. 6 of Janaki Rural Municipality, adjoining Nepalgunj, has gradually emerged as a new industrial hub in recent years. According to the Nepalgunj CCI, around 80 large industries are currently operating in the Ganapur area.
Industrialists have urged the government to expedite the completion of the Naubasta Industrial Estate and provide the necessary infrastructure to facilitate the establishment of new industries, thereby accelerating industrial development in the Nepalgunj region.
