Nepalgunj. Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has said necessary budget along with clear action plan would be forwarded for a permanent solution to the problem seen in power supply in Nepalgunj, the main commercial hub of western Nepal.

After an interaction with Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Lumbini Province and Banke district distribution department chiefs, people’s representatives, locals, industrialists and representatives of political parties as well as inspection of Nepalgunj distribution centre on Saturday, Minister Bhattarai expressed commitment to intensify necessary coordination and initiatives to make electricity supply sustainable, reliable and safe.

During the inspection, detailed information was gathered about the current status of distribution system, technical challenges and rapidly increasing demand for electricity. The network under the Nepalgunj Distribution Center has not been upgraded for a long time, which has led to increasing structural problems and the old infrastructure is making it difficult to handle the increasing load of electricity.

According to the Ministry, there has been no improvement in the distribution system since the completion of the seventh electrification project, demand for electricity is increasing at the rate of 15 percent annually and distribution system at the last point of supply of Kohalpur National Transmission Line and Tanakpur is the last point of supply.

The quality of service has been affected due to lack of adequate generating centre, low voltage, feeder overload, frequent tripping and delay in operation of the under-construction New Nepalgunj substation.

Minister Shrestha said ensuring quality and uninterrupted electricity service in the hotly hot Nepalgunj area was the priority of the government and necessary budget would be allocated for the improvement of the distribution system from the current fiscal year.

He said that necessary coordination would be made to bring the under-construction New Nepalgunj substation into operation soon. Likewise, the installation of additional transformers of required capacity, expansion of distribution network, upgradation of old lines and conductors, construction of new feeders in required places and effective load management will be implemented with high priority.

According to the Ministry, necessary decision and implementation process would be forwarded for immediate solution after carrying out detailed study of the technical problems including feeder overload, tripping and low voltage.

He also expressed his commitment that the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and Nepal Electricity Authority would work in a coordinated manner to create an environment for reliable, safe and quality electricity service to the citizens, industries and other consumers of Nepalgunj.