Industrialists complain of not getting smooth power supply while govt stresses increasing electricity consumption

Despite the government’s hype to provide adequate electricity to both households and industrial sectors citing the excess electricity production in the country, industrialists have complained of facing disruption in electricity supply in recent days.

According to the entrepreneurs based in Birgunj, Butwal and Bhairahawa, they have been facing power cuts frequently since last week. Subodh Kumar Gupta, president of Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said factories in the region have been facing power supply disruption since last Tuesday.

Bhisma Prasad Neupane, president of Siddharthnagar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been requesting the factories not to run their production plants that require high powered-electricity during peak hours in the morning and in the evening. “In addition, we have been facing the problem of tripping during day time,” he said.

Last week, NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising through a press meet expressed his commitment to providing uninterrupted electricity supply to the industries. According to him, NEA has been importing electricity purchased at up to Rs 38 per unit from the Indian market.

Suresh Bahadur Bhattarai, spokesperson for the NEA, said with Nepal being unable to purchase adequate electricity through free bidding in the Indian market, NEA has been facing problems in maintaining smooth supply of electricity to the industries.

Republica