Industries making prefab homes get IPB approval

KATHMANDU, JUN 15

An Industrial Promotion Board (IPB) meeting on Sunday approved the establishment industries manufacturing pre-fabricated homes so that homeless earthquake victims would get homes at an easier way.

Prefabricated houses are manufactured off-site in advance which can easily be shipped and assembled.  

The Industry Ministry said in a statement the IPB meet chaired by Industry Minister Mahesh Basnet approved the operation of such industries, including those manufacturing building structure, cement blocks, steel structures and metal panels.

Basnet said such industries would be allowed to operate outside the Ring Road in Kathmandu. “They have been categorised under production-related industries.”

As the quake has damaged about 800,000 houses, the permission to set up such industries would help the reconstruction process.

The IPB meet also approved the establishment of brick factories adopting Australian brick firing technology—Habla Zig-Zag Kiln (HZZK)—which is energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

The brick factories adopting this technology do not need chimneys.

With modest capital investment to an existing site and attractive payback periods, the HZZK can reduce adverse environmental emissions and increase kiln profitability and generate cash flow through significant reduction in energy consumption. As the roof completely covers the kiln, they can be operated even in the rainy season.

The meeting also decided to give recognition to sand washing factories as service industry and register them under the category.

Source: The Kathmandu Post