PM directs NEA to resume power supply to six industries

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has directed the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to reconnect power lines to industries immediately.

After a discussion with Minister for Energy Deepak Khadka, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari, NEA Executive Director Kul Man Ghising, and representatives of dedicated and trunk line consumers at the Office of the Prime Minister on Friday, Oli instructed NEA officials to resume power supplies to industries.

The NEA had disconnected power supply to six industries—Reliance Spinning Mills, Ghorahi Cement, Argakhanchi Cement, Jagadamba Synthetic, Hulas Steel, and Jagadamba Steel—between July 9 and 11 for not clearing their pending dedicated and trunk line dues.

On the occasion, Oli said the government would study the report submitted by an inquiry commission led by Girish Chandra Lal and the decision taken by the previous government.

Ghising stated that the NEA issued bills to dedicated and trunk line consumers based on the Lal commission’s report. Representatives of the six industries, however, argued that they cannot pay the billed amount set by the NEA without proof of the electricity consumed by them.