By Our Correspondent
Hetauda, ​​July 9: Most of the industries in the Hetauda Industrial Estate are now operating at less than their production capacity.
The prohibitory order imposed for the prevention, control and treatment management of COVID-19 has affected the operation of industries badly.
Rajendra Kandel, Manager of Hetauda Industrial Estate Management Office, ​​informed that the industries have reduced production due to lack of market for the goods produced from the industrial area.
He said that the industries manufacturing foods, soap, flour and biscuits were operating at full capacity, adding that the other industries, including plastic, metal industries and timber industries were almost closed after the issued prohibitory order.
He said that the industries in the industrial estate are operating at only 60 per cent of their capacity based on analysis of electricity consumption.
The industries have cut production due to lack of demand in the market even though there is no problem in the operation of the industries due to the ban enforced in the district from the last week of April.
“Industries have been reducing production along with the decline in economic activities due to the closure of the market, slowdown in development works and declining demand for industrial products and services other than food,” said Kandel.
He said that it would take time for the industries to reach their previous level as the stocks in the warehouses were increasing due to non-sale of the products.
Out of 111 industries operating in Hetauda Industrial Estate, some have been facing shortage of raw materials. The District Administration Office, Makwanpur, has made arrangements for the operation of industries by adopting the public health standards.