February 4: The production of the state-owned Hetauda Cement Industry has been halted for five months. The industry administration has said that production could not be carried out due to the lack of coal required for cement production.

The technical and administrative staff and workers of the industry have become jobless due to the lack of cement production. Basanta Kumar Pandey, general manager of the industry, said that the financial crisis of the industry is deepening due to the lack of production. The company has been operating in loss for the past four fiscal years.

Pandey revealed that the industry is unable to purchase coal due to the lack of funds.

Due to the shortage of funds, some retired employees have complained that they are not getting gratuity. According to the industry, the number of employees who have not received the gratuity amount stands at 15.

The cement factory used to produce 750 metric tons of cement daily but the production has been nil since October. At present, the industry is selling the stock of cement produced in the past. According to the industry, 249,456 sacks of cement have been sold so far in the current fiscal year.

Pandey, the general manager of the industry, said that the factory has initiated the coal purchase process for production. He informed New Business Age that the production would be carried forward as soon as the supply of coal is available. The industry has called for tender bids to supply 13,000 tons of coal.

During the fiscal year 076/77 to 078/79, the industry suffered a loss of Rs 654.7 million. Last year alone, there was a loss of Rs 235 million.

The All Nepal Labor Union has launched a protest demanding the operation of the industry. About 300 employees are currently employed in the industry on a daily wage basis as well as permanent staff. Meanwhile, the private sector-run Shivam and Riddhisiddhi cement industries are running continuously in Hetauda.