According to the Special Economic Zone Authority, the arrears exceed Rs 19.463 crore.
We use Google Cloud Translation Services. Google requires we provide the following disclaimer relating to use of this service:
This service may contain translations powered by Google. Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, expressed or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and noninfringement.
Industries operating in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) have been asked to pay rent within a week. The Special Economic Zone Authority has stated that if the dues are not paid within a week, the electricity and water lines will be disconnected.
Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Gauri Yadav has also directed the industries with arrears to pay the entire arrears within a week. A warning has also been given that if the rent is not paid within the specified time, the electricity and drinking water services of the concerned industries will be disconnected.
Acting Executive Director of the Authority Diwakar Luitel said that the request was made because the industries operating in the SEZ are required to pay 6 months of rent in advance as per the land acquisition agreement, but they have not paid. Minister Yadav has instructed that no exemption will be given to industries that have not paid rent for years using government property. Accordingly, the concerned body has also issued a letter to collect the rent.
According to the authority, the arrears are more than 19.463 million rupees. 'Out of the 30 to 40 industries operating in the SEZs of Simra and Bhairahawa, some have not paid the rent for 6 months and some for a year,' he said, 'We have asked them to pay the said rent. Electricity and water are provided by all SEZs. If they do not pay, we can deduct it.'
It is also mentioned that the authority has so far collected more than 160 million rupees. According to the SEZ management, the relevant industries have been repeatedly requested to pay the rent in writing and verbally, but the amount has not been received as expected, so now the legal process has been taken forward.
Minister Gauri Yadav has reportedly given clear instructions that no industry that withholds state revenue will be given an exemption, saying that industries that use government property must fulfill their obligations. He said that although it is the government's responsibility to provide the necessary environment for industries to operate their businesses, it is the legal responsibility of industries to pay the amount due to the state on time.
The authority has stated that from now on, it will make regular monitoring more effective, prevent the creation of new arrears, and proceed with the collection of all old arrears as a campaign. The government has urged industries to pay their arrears within the stipulated time to avoid further action.
