UCPN-Maoist govt lures private sector
KATHMANDU, OCT 30:
The communist government of UCPN-Maoist — that has been instrumental in closing many industries — has decided to bring in the private sector to operate loss-making Public Enterprises (PEs).
An Immediate Action Plan to Reform Governance and Economic Sector brought by the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers promised to involve private sector in reviving some closed public entities.
The action plan said that the government will operate an appropriate industry at the premise of Janakpur Cigarette Factory, one of the largest tax payer couple of years back.
The new industry should not hurt the employment of the locals, the plan has said, adding that the Ministry of Industry will be responsible to seek possible option of using land and infrastructure of the Janakpur Cigarette Factory.
Similarly, it has said that the government will invite proposals from private sector to construct a convention centre at the premise of Himal Cement Factory, which has been captured by the breakaway faction of the UCPN-Maoist blaming the ruling caretaker government of Dr Baburam Bhattarai of auctioning the machines for nothing.
The convention centre will have facilities of international standards, the plan promised, adding that the Finance Ministry will be responsible to carry out all necessary actions for the construction of convention centre within three years.
The government has also decided to lease out Birgunj Sugar Mills to private sector or cooperatives. It has asked Ministry of Industry to prepare an action plan to lease out the factory within one-and-a-half years.
The government had decided to dissolve the state-owned Birgunj Sugar Mill in 2007 citing its continuous financial loss. Due to its closure, farmers of Parsa district have been forced to take their sugarcane –– which amounts to some 50,000 metric tonnes –– for crushing to nearby districts. Recently, the farmers had put pressure to the government to resume operation of the mill.
Similarly, Agriculture Tools Factory, which was liquidated by the government in 2003 March, will also resume its operation within a year with involvement of the private sector, the government said.
The operation of the loss making public entities would only add liability to the government, according to the opposition parties, which are taking the government’s move as a publicity stunt.
The caretaker government has also decided to seek the possibilities of resuming operation of Hetauda Textile Factory, which was closed long ago as it failed to compete with cheap Indian and Chinese clothes.
Source: THT
