KATHMANDU: The government has accelerated preparations to resume operations at the long-closed Hetauda Textile Industry, with plans to begin trial production in the initial phase and gradually restore full-scale production through a long-term strategy.
A study task force formed by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has submitted a report to Minister Gauri Kumari Yadav, outlining a roadmap for immediate trial production and the sustainable operation of the industry in the future.
The task force, coordinated by Ram Bandhu Subedi, chief of the Administration and Public Enterprises Division at the ministry, submitted the report detailing steps taken for reopening the industry, progress made so far, and future plans.
Although the report was formally submitted on Monday, the Nepal Army has already started repairing machinery at the factory as part of preparations for trial operations, using the budget allocated earlier by the Ministry of Finance.
The government has instructed the Nepal Army to begin trial production at the industry within two months. Work has been expedited to meet the deadline, according to the report.
Following a proposal from the Industry Ministry, the Ministry of Finance released Rs 3.3 million to the account of the Nepal Army’s Directorate of Military Material Production in the first week of Ashadh, facilitating initial activities.
Technical team deployment and raw material procurement:
After being assigned responsibility for operating the factory, a technical team from the Nepal Army has been deployed to the site and has accelerated cleaning and maintenance works. The team has also purchased necessary raw materials for trial production, while repair work on machinery has begun.
The Ministry of Infrastructure Development has submitted a cost estimate of Rs 5 million for repairing the industry’s physical structures and infrastructure. The ministry has taken responsibility for carrying out the repairs based on the estimate.
The Hetauda Industrial Area Management Office has been working on repairing the factory’s electrical system, with the electricity maintenance work already completed.
For immediate trial production, the government plans to operate the old machinery after necessary repairs. Based on the results of trial production, a detailed project report (DPR) will be prepared for long-term operation of the industry. The government will then move ahead with required legal and policy decisions.
Receiving the report, Minister Yadav said the government has given high priority to reopening the Hetauda Textile Industry, which is linked with national pride, and pledged necessary coordination and support to begin production within the proposed timeline.
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