Finance Minister Poudel left the program after locals pelted stones at the stage

 Locals warn to obstruct Motipur Industrial Area

Butwal. Locals affected by the Motipur Industrial Area in Rupandehi have chanted slogans and pelted stones at Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel.

He laid the foundation stone of Motipur Industrial Area amidst heavy security cordon. After he started his speech, the locals pelted stones at the stage and chanted slogans against him.

After chanting slogans and throwing stones at the Finance Minister from all sides accusing him of land mafia, activists of the Oli group also pelted stones in response. But the police stopped the stone pelting from both sides.

It is alleged that the police beat and injured three locals and took two under control. After the two sides started throwing stones and chasing each other, Finance Minister Poudel ended his speech within two minutes.

Earlier, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Lekhraj Bhatta had made a brief statement. Outraged locals have demolished the stone pillars and information boards of the industrial zone laid by the Finance Minister.

Locals also demolished the stage prepared for the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday. But the Industrial Area Management Limited had mobilized the police and rebuilt the stage. Former VDC Chairman of Motipur, Bhim Lal Neupane, said that the locals have been protesting against the construction of an industrial zone on the land, school, forest and temple land that they have been cultivating for years.

He said that they would not allow the construction of the industrial zone as it was moving ahead in an opaque manner contrary to its commitment with the locals by the government.

"The work of the industrial sector cannot move forward without addressing the demands of the locals, It is objectionable for the government to lay the foundation stone in a hurry for political interests without completing all the necessary procedures. We obstruct it" Neupane said.

Gamlal Bhusal, co-coordinator of the Industrial Area Struggle Committee, said that they had to agitate as they did not address the demands of the locals while constructing an industrial zone on the land they protected. He said that tourist sites and parks should be set up in densely populated areas instead of industrial areas. 

The construction of the industrial zone is estimated to cost around Rs 12 billion. Although the project is said to be funded by foreign investment or grants or international financial institutions, the source of expenditure has not been ensured. The government claims that this industrial zone will be ready in five years.

Chairman of the Industrial Area Management Limited Nanda Kishor Basnet said that the construction work of the industrial area would not be stopped due to the protest of the locals. Locals protested and warned that they would not even get the Lalpurja.

Finance Minister's challenge to come to the streets by opening the curtain

Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel, who could not speak after the program was disrupted, held a press conference at the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment of the state government. He said that there was opposition to the construction of industrial zone from behind the curtain.

Poudel challenged the protesters to open the curtain and come to the street with their identiry. Stating that the construction work of the industrial zone has not started overnight but has moved ahead since 2072 BS, Poudel said that it will be built with the participation of the people.

Stating that the process of taking the country in the direction of industrialization has started, he said that the construction work of Motipur Industrial Area will not be stopped but will be started expeditiously.