Factories in the Pokhara Industrial Corridor have started to resume full operations. They had been struggling to operate at their full capacities due to acute fuel shortages as a result of India-imposed trade embargo. The blockade was lifted last week.

Pokhara Noodles has been running at its full capacity for the last one and half months despite the unavailability of fuel. It has been manufacturing 8,500 cartoons of noodles worth Rs3.2-Rs3.4 million daily. Baburam Panta, executive director of Pokhara Noodles, said they had somehow managed fuel to run the plants. “We are expecting smooth supply of raw materials and fuel soon,” he said. Pokhara Noodles, manufacturer of Ramba, Bonus and Jojo brand noodles, employs 400 workers.

Panchakanya Metal Engineering has also resumed full operations. Dipendra Bastakoti, board member of the company, said production of construction materials and kitchen burner has improved. He said almost all of the workers, who were laid off temporary, have returned to work.

Apart from these, many others have also resumed full or partial operations. Binod Sharma Neupane, vice-president of the Industrial Association at Pokhara Industrial Corridor, said manufacturing activity was rising gradually with an increase in the supply of fuel and raw materials. “However, it will take some time for the factories to start operating in full capacity,” he said.

Industrialists have expressed dissatisfaction over the government’s failure to assign fuel quota for them. Neupane said they had been receiving just 30 percent of the required amount of fuel.

Neupane said they were planning to evaluate the financial losses faced by the industries. “Although we were receiving raw materials from India during the blockade, imports from third countries were largely affected, hitting the manufacturers of food items particularly,” Neupane said.

Newly-established Bhagawati Biscuit said it would resume operations from next week. Manager Sudarshan Rayamajhi said they were just in the second month of operation when India imposed the trade embargo. Nepal Bhushan Vaidya, manager of the corridor, said almost all industries had gone into full-fledged operation.

There are 71 factories in the corridor. Of these, six are under construction while eight have been shut down. These factories produce packed foods, steel fabrication, dairy items, stationeries, and mineral water, among others.