September 2: The government is planning to set up 21 industries in Far Western Province under the 'One Local Level, One Industrial Village' program. Feasibility study for the establishment of industrial villages has already been initiated.

The Shrestha ECN LEC JV consulting company has started the work of feasibility study in coordination with the local levels. Dilli Raj Adhikari, a consultant of the company, said that work has been started to get information about the condition of the land at the local levels. The province is said to have the potential to set up industries in eight out of nine districts.

"We have done a feasibility study from Darchula to Kanchanpur for the establishment of industrial villages," he said. According to him, the target is to set up four industrial villages in Kanchanpur, six in Kailali, three in Dadeldhura, two in Darchula, one in Baitadi, one in Bajhang, two in Achham and two in Doti. Feasibility study has been carried out for the establishment of industrial villages in Shuklaphanta, Krishnapur, Bhimdatta and Dodhara Chandani municipalities of Kanchanpur. The establishment of one industrial village is estimated to cost Rs 9.4 million.

"A detailed project report (DPR) will be prepared for the establishment of an industrial village in the area where the feasibility study has been done within two months," the consulting official said. It should be away from schools and settlements and close to the market. In order to establish an industrial village, the minimum area of ​​land should be 30 ropanis in mountainous and remote hilly areas, 40 ropanis in hilly areas and 7 bighas in terai.

The area where the industrial village will be established should be at least 1 kilometer away from dense human settlement. There should be a minimum distance of two kilometers from the international border and it should be suitable from an economic and geographical point of view. Areas with low environmental impact are said to be suitable for setting up industrial zones. The minimum width of the access road connecting the industrial village to the highway should be 10 meters and the minimum width of the main road within the village should be 10 meters.

Within the industrial village, there will be an administrative building, bank and financial services, day care center, fire control system, exhibition hall, toilet, parking lot, canteen and first aid center. Small, cottage and small scale industries will be established in the industrial villages by mobilizing local resources, raw materials, technology and skills. The aim is to contribute to the economy by creating employment opportunities from the industries to be established in the villages.