KATHMANDU: As ongoing lockdown continues, the production capacity of the industries has sharply decreased in the country, painting a bleak picture of the industrial output.

In a report released on Saturday by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, operation of the industries in the country has shrunk compared to the early days of the lockdown order. In the early days of the lockdown, 49 to 51 percent of the industries were brought into operation nationwide, Ministry’s Spokesperson Prakash Dahal said.

He said that about 49 percent of the industries were run during the first 30 days of the lockdown in five major industrial corridors–Attariya-Dhangadhi Industrial Corridor; Nepalgunj-Kohalpur Industrial Corridor; Butwal-Belhiya Industrial Corridor; Pathaliya-Birgunj Industrial Corridor and Itahari-Biratnagar Industrial Corridor. During the period, only 150 industries out of 597 industries producing highly-essential goods continued their productions.

Prior to lockdown order, the industries had employed 5,190 workers but after a month’s period, only 1,602 workers were employed.

Likewise, 51 percent of such industries were run from April 25 to May 13.

A total of 349 industries were run to produce highly-essential goods till May 13 but the number of such industries decreased to 338 on June 2.

The companies of an oxygen cylinder and LP gas which were run in the full capacity during mid-May to mid-April are still running on the same scale but the operation of all other industries has shrunk, the Ministry said.

Currently, biscuit and noodles industries are run up to 60 percent while the factories preparing beaten rice, pulses, flour and cooking oil are run up to 55 percent and the dairy industries are run up to 60 percent.

Similarly, the stock of sugar has been reduced to 40,000 metric tonnes, it is said.