Chimi Dema | Tsirang

The Department of Cottage and Small Industry (DCSI) with the Ministry of Economic Affairs is constructing a mini-industrial estate in Changchey, Tsirang.

Once completed, it is expected to facilitate, support and enhance sustainable growth and development of cottage and small industries (CSI), which grapple with constraints of infrastructure development, access to land, finance, skilled workforce, and technology today.

DCSI chief, Tshering Dem, said the project would provide basic infrastructure to set up CSI.

Planned for food and agro-based industries, she said that basic infrastructures including power line, water supply, wastewater treatment facility, solid waste management system, internal road and drainage connectivity would be provided.

The estate, spanning on over 1.6-acre land would accommodate 12 industries with a minimum plot size of 10 decimals.

Besides providing infrastructure and accommodation facilities to rural industries, the estate is expected to cluster industries, optimize land utilization and enhance productivity of rural industries.

DCSI officials said that the current practice of allotting state reserved forest (SRF) land for industries based on the identification by the proponent is leading to fragmentation of scarce land, sub-optimal use of land and un-planned industrial development landscape.

“In addition, the current six industrial estates mostly cater to medium and large industries,” an official said.

The project worth around Nu 34 million is targeted to be completed by July next year.

However, with limited workers in wake of the global pandemic and import of construction materials a major hurdle, it might not complete on time.

An official said the department and the contractor are putting efforts to complete the work within the stipulated time.

Meanwhile, by creating an enabling environment for business operation, it is expected to increase the growth of resource-based industries and curb rural-urban migration.

With necessary infrastructures provided, officials said that locals and interested vendors would be able to directly establish a manufacturing unit as required for production and start manufacturing their products.

With increasing human settlement at the site, locals are expected to benefit from a business hub.

Meanwhile, Semjong gup, Top Nath Acharya, said that the project deploying locals as workers at construction sites created a source of cash income for people in the gewog.

“I am expecting that many would be employed once the industrial construction begins and operation starts. They need not go outside the dzongkhag looking for opportunities,” he said.

The gup said the project would enhance the rural economy.

Advertisement