Surkhet. Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Hitendra Dev Shakya has said that the country can never become rich by selling people’s labor to Bengal and the Arabian Gulf.

He said this while addressing a program organized to felicitate 10 best customers of Karnali Province Provincial Office in Surkhet, the capital of Karnali Province. “Electrification should be taken to the villages,” he said, adding, “Consumers who do not have electricity should get it and they should engage in industries after getting electricity.” ’

He stressed the need to work on this soil. For this, electricity is the most important and cheapest raw material,” he said, “Energy is the biggest driver of the economy not only in a country like Nepal but also in Europe and America.” Therefore, we need to focus on energy. ’

Shakya said that the campaign of honoring the best customers, listening to the complaints of the stakeholders for reliable power supply, taking information about the technical problems and identifying the problems has been started from Koshi Province.

“The campaign that was launched from Koshi Province last May has been expanded in Madhes Province, Gandaki and Karnali Province,” he said, adding, “The campaign has been launched with the objective of dispelling the doubts of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) being negative towards industrialists and businessmen. ’

He said that the campaign has compelled the authority to think customer-oriented and it has inspired it to move forward.

Stating that the NEA’s main source is the consumer, Shakya said that the consumers who use electricity have contributed to the economy through production-oriented works.

“By using electricity for one rupee, consumers produce four to five times more electricity and are contributing to the country’s economy,” he said, “It creates jobs and improves the standard of living of all of us.” ’

He said that it is not only contributing to the NEA but also to the economy of the state. “That’s why we want to honour that contribution,” he said. ’

Chief of Karnali Province Office of NEA Sashi Bhushan Sah said that he is happy to be able to honour the 10 best consumers who have not been blacklisted and consume the highest amount of electricity. As per the directive of the Executive Director, all 10 power stations in Karnali Province with around 180,000 customers will start honouring the best customers.

On behalf of the top 10 industrialists and entrepreneurs, Keshav Budhathoki urged the government to take reliable initiatives for regular power supply, saying they have been facing the problem of voltage low and undeclared load-shedding for long.

Directive to bring 132 kV transmission line into operation within 15 days

On the occasion, Executive Director Shakya claimed that with the operation of the 132 KV transmission line, industrialization would begin in Karnali and Karnali would move ahead in the pace of development.

He said this while inspecting the 132 KV Kolpur, Surkhet and Dailekh Transmission Line projects in Karnali Province. The 132 KV transmission line is coming into operation for the first time in Karnali Province.

“If we look at the evidence rather than the words of how far Karnali lags, then the 132 KV transmission line has not been completed yet,” he said, “What could be a bigger proof than this? The 132 kV transmission line will now come into operation in 15 days. ’

He also directed to bring the transmission line to charge within 15 days. “I am hopeful that the industries here will be able to spend more on industries next year,” he said, adding, “I am confident that when we come here again next year, big industries will start in Karnali and we will be able to honor those industrialists.” ’

Stating that he has been coming to Karnali continuously since 2066 BS, he said that while landing at Surkhet Airport, he was reminded of those old days.

Shakya also directed the authorities concerned to make necessary preparations for the use of charging station in Surkhet district near the tower on the side of the main highway and the land acquired by the NEA to facilitate the use of electric vehicles on the highway.

Rabi Kumar Chaudhary, chief of the project, said that the work of the Kolpur-Surkhet section is in the final stage and it will be able to charge the line within 15 days as per Shakya’s directive. “The construction of the Surkhet-Dailekh section of the second section has also moved ahead expeditiously,” Chaudhary said, adding, “We will extend it to Dailekh within next year.” The managing director of NEA has come and instructed us to complete the project as soon as possible. We will speed up the work accordingly. ’

According to Chaudhary, the substation constructed at a cost of around Rs 750 million is ready and two span wires of the transmission line built at a cost of Rs 650 million are yet to be tested.

On the occasion, Minister Shakya held discussion with chiefs of all 10 power stations of Karnali Province focusing on their progress report, problems there and ways to resolve them. He also suggested that while presenting their complaints and problems, they should identify the problems in writing and with a plan to find ways to resolve them.

10 industries and businessmen to be honored

Gunangdong Yuntain Rama JV Crusher, Surkhet, Khalanga Sitapati Drinking Water Consumers, Salyan, Subghat Urban Drinking Water, Surkhet, Bijay Shree Chaurjahari Dry Drinking Water and Sanitation, Rukum West, Khalanga Sitalparty Restaurant and Consumer Salyan, Birendranagar Industrial Area Surkhet, Shankhamul Rural Electricity, Luham Bazaar, Salyan, Karnali Academy of Health Sciences, Jumla, Siddhartha Sunny Resort Surkhet and Shubhaghat Government Food and Restaurant Surkhet.