Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: As many as 23 industries whose power lines have been cut off for not paying their dedicated and trunk line dues, have decided to reject the proposal of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI).

The industrialists who have been disconnected from the power supply by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) held a discussion this evening and decided not to accept the proposal made by the federation at any cost.

“The proposal that the FNCCI presented in a meeting with Prime Minister Sushila Karki today has come out that it was a centrist proposal. We are not ready to accept it,” said one of the industrialists who participated in the discussion. We do not accept its unilateral centrist proposal. ’

Prime Minister Sushila Karki and other high-level government officials including President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Chandra Prasad Dhakal held a high-level meeting today to resolve the dispute over dedicated feeder and trunk line tariffs.

According to FNCCI, Finance Minister Rameshwor Khanal, Energy Minister Kulman Ghising, Industry and Commerce Minister Anil Sinha, Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal, secretaries and FNCCI President Dhakal held a meeting at the office of Prime Minister Karki.

According to the proposal taken up in the discussion, the disconnected power line will be immediately connected after the industrialists pay the amount equal to one installment of 28 installments given by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) as a deposit and the disconnected power line will be immediately connected and after paying the deposit, the industrialists can go for review and seek other legal remedies.

“The concerned industrialists can submit their disagreement to the NRA while submitting the deposit to the NRA mentioning the review and other details. FNCCI President Dhakal met with Prime Minister Karki, Finance Minister Khanal and other high officials on Sunday to resolve the problem. After that, the concerned industrialists were called to the federation and held discussions,” the statement reads. However, an office-bearer of the Cement Manufacturers Association said that the federation did not hold any discussion with them on Sunday. “We have not held any discussion with the industrialists on Sunday,” he told Investment News.

“The industrialists had told the federation president that the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) would accept the disputed amount as bail and an agreement could be reached if there was an opportunity for legal remedy,” the statement reads. This point mentioned in the statement has made the industrialists who have cut the power line even more upset.