The cabinet meeting held on Monday approved the proposal tabled by Minister for Industry Som Prasad Pandey to develop industrial estates in all provinces. The meeting also decided to arrange 3,038 bigha of land in five different places in four provinces for the purpose.The plan is to have industrial estates spread over a minimum of 1,000 bigha in all seven provinces, according to the Ministry of Industry.
Speaking at a press meet on Wednesday, Minister Pandey said that they will prepare Detailed Project Report (DPR) of all the proposed sites within a year. "We will also keep searching suitable land to build industrial estates in Province No. 2, 4 and 6," he added.
According to Pandey, a plot spread over 500 bigha in Damak Municipality has been identified to set up industrial estate in Province No. 1. Similarly, a plot spread over 300 bigha will be developed into an industrial estate for Province No. 3.
Likewise, two plots spread of 1,338 bigha in Butwal (Rupandehi) and Naubasta (Banke) have been selected to build industrial estate in Province No. 5. According to Pandey, a plot spread of 900 bigha in Bedkot (Kanchanpur) has been allotted for industrial estate in Province No. 7.
This is probably the first time that the government has started work for setting up new industrial estates since the 1980s. Currently, there are 11 industrial estates in the country and one Special Economic Zone (SEZ). But the SEZ has yet to start full-fledged operation.
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