By Siraj Khan

Banke, Feb. 26 Production of brick in Banke is reportedly reduced by 80 per cent this year.
According to Banke branch of Federation of Nepal Brick Industries, the decline in brick production is due to frequent winter rain beginning from November last year.
The bricks produced in Banke used to be transported up to Mahendranagar in Sudurpashchim State and Jumla in Karnali State. But frequent winter rains affecting the brick production, it is scarce in Banke itself.
“The five-time winter rainfall this winter destroyed the bricks produced to fulfil the demand for a year due to which production has been affected,” said Suryamani Poudel, secretary of the federation’s Banke branch.
According to Poudel, the overnight rain on Monday alone destroyed around 25 million bricks. From last November, the winter rain destroyed around 250 million bricks produced by 55 different industries in Banke.
The brick industries in Banke had to produce more than 70 per cent bricks by the end of Fagun month but they have been able to produce only 10 per cent bricks. “If the winter rain does not surprise us again, we could produce 10 per cent more bricks by the end of this year.”
The scarcity of bricks has also increased its price in Banke. While one brick cost Rs 13.56 earlier, it is being sold at Rs. 17 recently.
“The district committee of the federation will decide the new price. Until then, the current price is the authorised one,” said Poudel.
Poudel also urged the government to allow brick industries to insure the raw bricks.
“If we could insure the raw bricks, it would give a great relief to the industries whose bricks get destroyed. It would be great even if we could avail of insurance only during the winter season,” said Poudel.