Foundation laid to build soap factory

BY NISHA RAI,Dharan, Sept. 27: The foundation stone for the 'Maya Dharane' (soap factory) has been laid in Dharan with the objective of providing employment to Dharan denizens. Dharan Sub-metropolitan City Mayor Harka Raj Rai laid the foundation stone on Tuesday.

The factory is being constructed with investment from the sub-metropolitan and voluntary labour from the locals. Mayor Rai said that the factory was being built with an aim of employing Dharan locals and contributing to the prosperity of the country. 

He stressed the need to operate factories in the country since Nepalis had been using significant amount of imported goods every day. The factories would increase the production of domestic goods and make the country self-reliant. 

Suraj Shrestha, a senior engineer of the sub-metropolitan city, informed that they had consulted with locals and technicians and conducted environmental research for the operation of the factory. The construction of the factory is expected to cost Rs. 3.7 million and would be completed within four months.

The meeting of working committee on September 9 had decided to proceed with the construction of the factory in Devi village of the sub-metropolitan city. The factory is expected to develop the area around Sardu Khola of Devi village as industrial village, with boundaries extending to Bishnupaduka Marga in the North, Community Forest in the South, Sardu Khola in the East and Devi village in the South. Although it was initially planned to begin construction of the factory last year, the forest office had obstructed the project as the land chosen for the factory was within the Janakalyan Community Forest Area of the National Forest Area. 

The forest office had filed a case almost a year ago asserting ownership of the land and stating that the factory should be constructed only after obtaining permission. The case was filed against Mayor Rai and Dharan Sub-metropolitan City.