KATHMANDU: The private sector has complained of the power supply being disconnected without taking enough initiatives for the resolution of disputes over electricity tariff arrears of those with dedicated feeders and trunk lines.
They said the government disconnected the lines without showing seriousness in addressing the dispute of payment of electricity arrears of dedicated feeders and trunk lines, which has been in place for the past six years.
Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has started disconnecting power supply from Friday, citing that different industries using dedicated feeders and trunk lines have not paid the electricity bills for long.
Issuing a press release on Monday, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) said a high-level commission should be formed to resolve the dispute over arrears of dedicated feeders and trunk lines.
Similarly, Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) organised a press conference in Kathmandu on Monday and said disconnecting the power supply of industries without making efforts to resolve the problems was unfortunate.
CNI warned of seeking legal remedy against this act of NEA. CNI President Rajesh Kumar Agrawal mentioned that industrialists have been discouraged due to NEA's act, of disconnecting the power supply line without taking initiatives to resolve the problems.
The NEA on Friday disconnected the power supply to Jagadamba Steel, Reliance Spinning Mill, Ghorahi Cement, Arghakhanchi Cement, Sarbottam Cement, Laxmi Steel, and other industries.
The issue of payment of electricity arrears of different industries using dedicated feeders and trunk lines surfaced six years ago. The dispute between NEA and industrialists has not been dissolved yet. Courts, parliamentary committees, Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had directed the NEA to collect the arrears.
The NEA disconnected the power supply after the industries did not pay attention to NEA's request to pay the dues, it is said.
