Space crunch hitting entrepreneurs
UNAVAILABILITY
of space at Butwal Industrial Estate has deprived many industrialists,
including aspiring youth entrepreneurs, from setting up industries and
expand the existing facilities. With a relatively lower rent, better
power supply than outside the zone, increasing number of entrepreneurs
are looking to set up their base inside the industrial estate. But the
industrial estate management has failed to avail them space, claiming
that the area has been congested with existing industries. However, it
has hardly stopped people from demanding space inside the area.
Applications at Butwal Industrial Estate Management Office seeking space
to start a fresh business have piled up since the last seven years. The
authority has not provided space to anyone to set up a factory over the
period. “There isn’t any space left inside the industrial estate. We
are forced to accept applications and keep it in our record,” said
Prakash Khadka, manager of Butwal Industrial Estate Management Office.
According to him, applications have been pouring in as talks on
expanding the industrial estate or opening a new one at another location
surface time and again. Various alluring features such as its proximity
to the Indian market across the border, establishment of the city as an
industrial hub of Western and Far-western Development Regions and
favourable working environment, among others, have made Butwal a
preferred place to start business initiatives. Unavailability of space
has even forced aspiring youngsters to go abroad for employment. Sujan
Shrestha, a youngster from Shanker Nagar, Rupandehi said that his
application has been pending since the past five years. “As there’s no
hope of getting space, I have no choice but to go abroad seeking for
employment,” Shrestha said, who had recently returned to Nepal. Besides
individuals, organisations like Rupandehi Chamber of Commerce,
Industrial Estate Industries Association and Butwal Chamber of Commerce
and Industries, among others, have also received a large number of
applications after a news that the private sector was preparing to open a
new industrial estate. Rubin Thapa of Golpark, Butwal, who wanted to
open a plastic factory, had submitted applications at three places
seeking space to start a factory. “I approached all three places as I
heard about the private sector developing a new industrial estate,” he
said. Since the price of land has rocketed in Butwal, industrialists and
entrepreneurs are finding it hard to begin business by buying or taking
land on lease in and around Butwal. Even if they open it, several
obstacles like environmental issues, electricity, security and proper
roadways make it difficult to sustain. Meanwhile, after the government’s
failure to address the issues, big industrialists from Butwal have
initiated to open a new industrial estate. They have also selected
several places for the purpose. But despite the selected locations being
proven feasible for an industrial estate, the plan has not got off the
ground yet. But the industrial estate management has failed to avail
them space, claiming that the area has been congested with existing
industries
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