KATHMANDU: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has intensified preparations and coordination to maintain power supply and restore the disrupted services in the affected areas at the earliest in view of the possibility of damage to electricity transmission and distribution structures in different parts of the country due to incessant rains, floods, landslides, storms and lightning.

At present, continuous information is being taken and monitored about the status of electricity supply, transmission and distribution structures across the country, and the affected areas. The necessary manpower, equipment and materials have been kept ready to handle the possible damage and power supply disruption immediately and work has been started accordingly.

On Sunday, NEA’s Executive Director Dirgha Kumar Shrestha held a meeting with the chiefs of provincial offices and two division offices of all seven provinces in the presence of Rajan Dhakal, chief of the Directorate of Distribution and Customer Service, and the chiefs of the Grid Operation Department. During the discussion, information was gathered about the impact of rainfall, floods and landslides on the electricity infrastructure, the present situation of power supply and possible risks.

Executive Director Shrestha has directed the office chiefs to prepare and mobilize the required human resources, equipment and materials to resume the power supply in the affected areas as soon as possible. Executive Director Shrestha also directed to make arrangements to resume power supply through alternative lines and feeders as far as possible in the areas where power supply has been disrupted and to immediately carry out repair and rehabilitation work safely after assessing the condition of the damaged structures. Arrangements have been made to continuously monitor the situation of the affected areas and mobilize additional human resources, equipment and technical materials as per the need.

The NEA has mobilized all its concerned offices and technical teams to operate the supply through alternative arrangements as far as possible in case of power disruption and to restore the disrupted services as soon as possible. Considering the risks that may arise due to natural disasters, the Authority has directed the concerned offices to proceed with the repair and rehabilitation work only by prioritizing the safety of employees and technical manpower.

NEA has been continuously monitoring and coordinating the state of electricity supply system from the central level and has adopted all necessary measures to provide regular electricity to consumers as far as possible and to restore the disrupted service as soon as possible.