Thirty six industries including 5 multinational companies closed in Hetauda

As agitating Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum and Janatantraik Terai Mukti Morcha continue to obstruct transit points in Terai, thirty six out of 40 industries have been closed due to the scarcity of raw materials in Hetauda, industrial zone of Makawanpur district. Among them, five are multinational companies including Colgate Palmolive, Unilever Limited and Alcoa CSI Pvt. Ltd.

Transportation means have been obstructed to import raw materials from India and third countries.

Colgate Palmolive, a multinational company, operating in the industrial zone, shut all its activities after it failed to import required raw materials for the last two weeks.

Another multinational company, Unilever Limited has also halted manufacturing as goods produced in the plant could not go to the market. According to an official, raw materials it imported have been lingering in Birgunj Customs office for the last one week.

President of the Makwanpur Chambers of Commerce and Industries Dipak Prasad Shrestha said that the industries were closed due to the agitation in Tarai and power cut. "The industries continued to cut back their production activities and finally they have no choice but to shut down," he said.

The closed industries have pasted notices that they are closed for certain time. Some of them have informed the workers working under contract to come back to duty after they resume the business.

Persistence of disruption in vehicular movement especially in the transit points has troubled industrial sector which has already been hit hard by long hour power cut.