Power cuts hit industries

Shekhar Regmi

BIRATNAGAR: The Nepal Electricity Authority’s decision to extend load-shedding hours by up to seven hours a week has hit hundreds of industries in Sunsari-Morang corridor, which were already facing up to 28 hours of power-cut.

NEA Duhabi Grid authorities had extended the power cut hours w.e.f. October 24. However, loadshedding hours have not been increased for household consumers.

“Industrialists of the corridor had been staging a phasewise agitation since February 23 to mount pressure on NEA to reduce the power outage. However, the problem was yet to be addressed,” said Nawal Kishor Kabara, a senior industrialist.

“Load-shedding, bandhs and strikes have rendered over 70 per cent of the industries sick,” he said. New power-cut schedule may force all industries to shut down, he feared.

An NEA source said loadshedding was increased, as the existing supply of 45 MW from Kattaiya (India) and 10 MW from 132 KV central transmission line could not fulfill the demand of 110 MW in the area. Industrial entrepreneurs have another grudge: their production expenses have been mounting, as load-shedding is not implemented as per the announced schedule.