Kathmandu. The government has announced immediate relief to the flood-affected families and businessmen of Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading.

Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, said that the government will provide subsidy in electricity service to the people affected by the disaster.

Minister Shrestha said that necessary decision has been taken in such a way that the fees paid by other customers will also be used in the relief of the affected families as per the spirit of ‘our support to the neighbors’.

He said that a meeting of the Board of Directors of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has decided not to do the minimum electricity billing for the customers damaged by the floods in the Bhotekoshi River from the month of August. In addition, the records of the electricity meters of the affected houses, businesses and industries will also be deducted.

According to Minister Shrestha’s Secretariat, the NEA will provide new meters free of cost to the affected customers who have been deducted from the electricity meter.

The NEA management has been directed to conduct a study on the issue of providing additional concessions or discounts on electricity tariffs to the customers of the flood-affected areas. As the power supply in 15 municipalities affected by the floods is in the process of being resumed, it has been asked to study and submit a proposal on how much concession or discount can be given to the affected customers.

On the basis of the study, the NEA is preparing to finalize the additional concessions and discounts on electricity tariffs this week. The facility has been made to provide relief to the citizens who have been affected by the floods, as well as the electricity infrastructure, houses, industries, businesses and other structures from the immediate financial burden related to electricity service.