November 12: The industries in the Bara-Parsa Industrial Corridor, which were badly affected by the lockdown, are now returning to normalcy. Their production had declined due to the four-month long lockdown imposed to control the coronavirus and the two-month-long prohibitory order, but is now increasing since October.

Former president of the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry Pradip Kedia says that the market has gained momentum and the demand for their products has increased after the lockdown was lifted.

“The production of the industrial corridor has improved in the last two months. With the opening of the market and the festive season, both demand and production have increased,” Kedia told New Business Age.

Bara and Parsa that were once the epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic are now relatively safe areas. After the coronavirus spread in the community along with the industries of the corridor, the local administration had tightened the operation of the industries at that time. Production was affected after the prohibitory order was imposed in the area. Most of the industries in the corridor were shut down.

Even the production capacity of essential goods like food and pharmaceutical products had shrunk to 15 to 20 percent.

The lockdown was eased by the government in the first week of July. As soon as the lockdown was eased, the number of infected people in Bara and Parsa started increasing. At present, industries in the corridor are producing an average of 70 to 80 percent of their total production capacity, said industrialist Suresh Rungta.

“The food market and production have improved as this is the festive season. Industries that have been hit hard by the lockdown are feeling some relief,” he said.

Industrialist Bishwamitra Prasad Kalwar says that there is a problem in payment even though the market has opened. He further says that even though the market is returning back to normal, they are facing problems in operation as the payments that were stopped during the lockdown have not been collected.