Industrial District Management Limited (IDML) has decided to evict people who have illegally occupied government’s land in Mayurdhap of Hetauda where an industrial estate is being built.

IDML, a state-owned company which oversees all industrial estates in the country, took this decision after illegal tenants affected works of surveyors hired to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) of the proposed industrial estate, which will house around 100 manufacturing units.

The decision was taken after lawmaker Ananta Poudel, local representatives and IDML Chairman and General Manager Nanda Kishor Basnet conducted a field visit on Sunday.

IDML has handed over ownership certificate of 210 bighas (approximately 142 hectares) of land to the project based on a decision made by the Cabinet.  But over 30 bighas of land have been occupied by illegal tenants. These illegal tenants are now engaged in farming and have even built houses, according to IDML. “These people will be evicted soon,” said IDML Chairman and General Manager Basnet. “If they [illegal tenants] do not move away voluntarily we will enlist the police so that works related to preparation of the DPR are not affected.”

Earlier, IDML had hired a joint venture between CRS, Jarsa and ECN to prepare the DPR of the proposed industrial estate. The joint venture began its work around a month ago.

Lately, the project developer has also started fencing the land where proposed industrial estate is being built. “But since the exact boundaries are not known, works related to fencing are not moving ahead at a desired pace,” said Bhusan Vaidya, manager at Hetauda Industrial Area Management Limited.

The location of the new industrial estate is ideal for manufacturing units, as it is not very far away from the highway. Also, electricity lines could be extended to this area easily.

The establishment of the new industrial estate, which is expected to be completed in two years, is also expected to help in economic development of surrounding areas such as Churiyamai and Padam Pokhari. The first industrial area in Nepal was established at Balaju in Kathmandu in 1960 through the support of the US government.

Currently, there are 11 industrial areas in the country. They are located at Balaju, Patan, Hetauda, Dharan, Nepalgunj, Pokhara, Butwal, Bhaktapur, Birendranagar, Rajbiraj and Dhankuta. However, the industrial area in Dhankuta has not come into operation yet.

A little while ago, the government initiated the process of establishing an industrial area in Shaktikhor of Chitwan. A Cabinet meeting held on February 14 approved a decision to set up the industrial estate in Chitwan.  This industrial area will be spread on nearly 401 hectares of land.