POKHARA, Feb 8: The Gandaki Province government has announced that it will establish 11 industrial villages in the province in the current fiscal year 2019/220. In the first phase, the provincial government will establish 6 industrial villages. 

The provincial government is in the process of signing agreements with Putalibazar Municipality of Syangja, Waling Municipality, Arjun Chaupari Rural Municipality, Bihadi Rural Municipality of Parbat and Tarakhola Rural Municipality of Baglung. “We are preparing to sign the agreements with six local municipalities and we are waiting for the official documents from the municipalities,” said Bikas Lamsal, Minister of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment for Gandaki Province.

As per the government standard, 30 ropanis of land in the mountain and rural hilly areas, 40 ropanis of land in hilly areas and seven bighas of land in the tarai area have been fixed for the establishment of the industrial villages. The government has set a standard to establish industrial village within one kilometer from human settlement and not to develop human settlement within the perimeter of 200 meters. 

According to the provincial government, each local municipality selected will receive Rs 5.45 million to establish an industrial village. The cabinet meeting of the provincial government had approved the plan to establish industrial villages in 11 localities in the province on September 24, 2019. 

The provincial government will provide 50% of the fund after signing the agreement with local municipalities and the rest will be provided after the completion of the infrastructure for the industrial village. According to the government officials, the local municipalities will have to begin construction of the industrial village within this year after receiving the fund from the provincial government. The fund received by the municipalities will be used to construct the infrastructure of the industrial village. The local municipality will have to construct the building, provide electricity, warehouse, and management of waste and also use alternative energy if possible. 

The industrial villages will focus on using locally available raw materials and process them to produce products for both domestic and international markets. The provincial government plans to promote locally available maize, paddy, wheat, buckwheat, millet, milk, tea, coffee, fruits and vegetables. The industrial villages will also focus on local industries such as wood, bamboo and fiber and will help to provide employment to the people of the province. Use of alternative energy and bio-gas will also be promoted in the industrial villages.

 
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