KATHMANDU: The government has formed a task force to study the feasibility of reopening the Biratnagar Jute Mill, Nepal’s first large-scale industrial enterprise.
A Cabinet meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Monday decided to form an expert-backed task force to assess the mill’s current financial, technical and legal condition and recommend viable options for its revival.
According to government secretary Birendra Kumar Yadav, the task force will review the mill’s current status, previous government decisions and reports prepared by various government agencies before recommending a strategy for its potential reopening.
The task force will be coordinated by a joint secretary overseeing public enterprises at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. Representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs will serve as members, while two experts will be nominated by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.
The ministry’s undersecretary overseeing government enterprises will serve as member-secretary.
The task force will examine the mill’s buildings, factory facilities, machinery, spare parts and other physical assets, along with its existing liabilities and other outstanding issues. It will also review recommendations and reports submitted by previous task forces formed to examine the mill’s revival.
The panel has been given one month to complete its study and submit its report to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. The government will take further decisions based on its findings and recommendations.
