By Our Correspondent
Birgunj, Feb. 7
The incessant rains from Thursday to Saturday caused damage worth Rs. 600 in 158 brick industries -- 62 brick industries in Parsa and 96 in Bara as the rains destroyed bricks ready to bake.
Omprakash Yadav, President of Brick Industry Entrepreneurs' Association, said that the entrepreneurs in the plain areas suffered a lot due to the recent rains. “Initial data shows that the brick industries in Bara-Parsa lost around Rs. 600 million due to the rains,” he said.
According to Chairman Yadav, entrepreneurs installed motors to drain water accumulated inside brick factories by mobilising their workers for past two days. “Each of the industry and the entrepreneur incurred losses of at least Rs. 10 million. Brick industries were also badly hampered during lockdown,” he added.
Subash Sah, proprietor of Bara Brick Industry, said that rains destroyed more than 1.5 million raw bricks in his industry. “I am worried for the current loss because I had not been able to recover even from the losses of lockdown period,” he added.
Similarly, Sitaram Acharya, operator of Baba Brick Industry in Sisnia- Bara, said that about 1.4 million dried bricks were destroyed by the untimely rain. “The heavy rainfall which occurred after 18 years in winter swept our dreams of earnings,” he said.
Another entrepreneur Raj Kishor Sah who owns PK Brick Industry had a similar tale to share. He said that the rains destroyed more than 1.5 million raw bricks in his industry.
Binay Yadav, president of the Brick Industry Entrepreneurs Association of Madhesh Pradesh, said that the heavy rainfall destroyed bricks in six different industries in the province.
Brick entrepreneurs claimed that loss record could spike as raw bricks and coal were destroyed due to rain and inundation. Brick industry was mired in problem due to lack of insurance for raw bricks. Industrialists claimed that around 1.5 million dried raw bricks were destroyed in each brick industry.
They were seeking some assistance from the government. They said either the government had to manage insurance policy for them or it should support the business. He said the brick factories would be shut down if they failed to get any support.
Meanwhile, brick industrialists in Sarlahi had asked for relief package from the government. They submitted a memorandum to the Chief District Officer on Monday asking for the relief package for the damages borne due to rain.
“We are in crisis, the government needs to help us to recover from this situation,” read the document.