SURKHET: A significant number of industries established in Surkhet with the intent of securing government and non-government subsidies have been cancelled.
According to the Office of Industry and Consumer Protection in Surkhet, the majority of the closed businesses are related to the agricultural sector.
Office chief Mukundanath Yogi reported that 303 industries were cancelled in the fiscal year 2082/83, comprising 254 industrial firms and 49 commercial entities. Yogi noted that many entrepreneurs registered these businesses solely to obtain grants, abandoning them once the funding was received or when they failed to qualify for the support.
Data from the past three fiscal years indicates that 864 industries have been closed in the district. Specifically, 246 were cancelled in 2080/81, 315 in 2081/82, and 303 in 2082/83. During this same three-year period, 2,802 new industries were registered, showing that registration numbers remain triple the rate of cancellations.
Despite the cancellations, industries registered in the last fiscal year provided employment to over 1,700 people. Yogi stated that a total of 1,751 individuals-995 men and 756 women-secured jobs during this period. Most of these registered businesses are service-oriented, followed by tourism, agriculture, forestry, manufacturing, and energy-related ventures.
Suman Nath Yogi, chairman of the Industrial Village and Koseli Griha Management Committee, stated that the closure of businesses opened for short-term gain has tarnished the reputation of genuine entrepreneurs. He emphasized the need for proper study and research before establishing such industries to prevent negative long-term impacts.
