Power supply line to defaulter Industries cut off

Kathmandu, Dec 23: Power supply to some large-scale industries, who have failed to pay their electricity tariff for using dedicated and truck lines for a long time, have been cut off.

The Nepal Electricity Authority took the measure after Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ ordered the NEA to plug off the power lines and recover the tariff from them on Thursday.

The NEA had been facing public criticism for cutting off power supply of household consumers but exempting the large-scale industries. According to the NEA, power supply to Jagdamba Steel, Reliance Spinning Mills, Ghorahi Cement and Arghakhanchi Cement industries have been cut off.

NEA sources say that Jagdamba alone has to pay tariff worth Rs. 4.14 billion. Similarly, Reliance has to pay Rs 1.09 billion, Ghorahi Cement has to pay Rs 1.36 billion and Arghakhanchi Cement owes Rs. 1.3 billion.

Despite repeated calls the industries have not paid their dues in the form of power tariff to the NEA. The latest report of the Auditor General too instructs the NEA to collect the arrears. Furthermore, various committees of the Parliament had also directed to raise the tariff immediately.