Gandaki, Works have been initiated for conducting the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the industrial zone at Punditar of Kaski and at Lokahakhola of Nawalpur. The Gandaki province government had announced the construction of these two projects six years back.

Gaumukhi Engineering had got the responsibility of conducting the EIA of these two projects. The agreement to this effect was signed with the consultant company two weeks back and it has started its works, said Ram Prasad Acharya, Chief of the Industry-Commerce Division at the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment, the Sudurpaschim government.

“The consulting firm has been given the responsibility of determining the area of work and preparing the list of works within one month, and submitting the preliminary report within two months and the final report within five months,” he added. According to Acharya, the provincial government has forwarded the works related to environmental impact assessment as the federal government does not provide the land for the industrial area until the EIA is conducted.

He shared that the construction of industrial zone had not started since the land for the facilities could not be managed even for many years since the industrial zone was declared. Acharya said the proposal sent by the provincial government for acquiring the land for the two projects has been pending at the Ministry of Forests and Environment of the Federal government. “The process of managing land would move ahead after the EIA report is submitted.

After that, the Ministry will concentrate on constructing the infrastructures required for the industrial zone,” he added. As he said, the proposal sent by the provincial government has already reached the Ministry of Forests and Environment of the Federal Government from the Office of the Council of Ministers and the Council of Ministers will make a decision to provide land for the industrial zone after getting the approval of the Ministry of Forests and Environment. The provincial government has allocated Rs 25 million in this fiscal year for the construction of the industrial zone.