Construction works for an Industrial Park in Naubasta, an area in Ward No. 3 of Baijanath Rural Municipality of Banke district, which was stalled for years, have finally started. Problems related to the management of nearby settlements had stalled the process.

Authorities informed that the first stage of works for the construction of the industrial park had started after an agreement was reached between the officials of the Industrial District Management Limited and local representatives of Ward No. 3 of Baijanath Rural Municipality.

“Under the first stage, the survey of land by drones has started. The construction of the industrial park has stalled since 2015. Now, the construction will begin swiftly.

The issues related to the management of locals will also be solved,” said Prakash Bahadur Shahi, Chairman of Baijanath Rural Municipality.

Shahi stressed that the local representatives of political parties, locals and Kishore Singh Rathore, an elected representative from Banke Constituency-3 and deputy general secretary of Nepali Congress, played an important role in paving the way for the construction of the industrial park.

“After years of dispute, an agreement has finally been reached. The dispute was a result of concrete plans and steps to manage the locals who had been living in the construction site and nearby areas,” said Nikhil Baigar, chairman of Ward No. 3.

The cabinet meeting on March 14, 2016, had decided to construct an industrial park at Naubasta.

An office for the project was established in the area on October 24, 2018. However, it could not begin the construction due to the protests from the squatters living in the area for years.

Of the 525 bighas of government land from Ratna Highway in the north, Digiya Danda in the south, Gavar in the east and Pitamari in the west, ownership of 338 bighas of land has been transferred to the park. Officials informed that 111 plots, each with an area from nine to 30 ropanis, will be allocated in the park for different industrial projects.

The budget required for the industrial park has been estimated at Rs. 8.77 billion.

The park will have proper infrastructures for road, electricity, water, residence, administration, service delivery, customs, petroleum products, water treatment and parking.

According to the Industrial District Management Limited, they have received 350 letters of intents have been received for the project.

The government had stated to charge no rent for five years and give discounts for up to 10 years for to industry operating in the park before charging the full rent. The discounts have been provided to promote the park.