KATHMANDU, April 3: Forest Minister Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri inspected the Herbs Production and Processing Center (HPPC), which was destroyed during the March 28 royalist protests.
Minister Thakuri, accompanied by Kathmandu-2 Member of Parliament Sobita Gautam, visited the processing center on Thursday morning to observe the charred remains of the infrastructure.
The facility was reduced to ruins after protesters set it on fire during the demonstrations. Several vehicles were also burned, causing damage worth millions.
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General Manager of the processing center, Sangita Yadav, along with other officials, briefed the visitors about the damage during the inspection.
Minister Thakuri said that efforts are underway to resume operations as soon as possible. “We are holding discussions with technical experts. If Rs 100 million is made available, temporary operations can be initiated. The matter has already been discussed in the Cabinet, and funds will be released soon,” he said.
He added that the Ministry is assessing the damage, and the reconstruction process will proceed accordingly. “We will complete all processes to ensure production is restored and employment is secured,” he said.
Similarly, MP Gautam said that the damage amounted to Rs 280 million and emphasized that those responsible for the arson must be brought to justice. She also suggested relocating the processing center from densely populated areas, stating, “When it was established, it was an open area. Now it has become a dense settlement, making this location unsuitable. The government needs to plan for relocation.”
General Manager Yadav mentioned that significant damage occurred while preparing for new production. Two buildings and 13 vehicles were destroyed, resulting in losses amounting to Rs 280 million. She stated that an initial fund of Rs 100 million would be sufficient to resume services. “We are making efforts to restart operations. The Minister has assured that a financial package will be announced soon. We are working to restore the processing center to its original state,” she said.
Employees of the processing center expressed concerns about losing their jobs due to the production halt and requested MP Gautam’s assistance in expediting the process.