Kathmandu. Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha held discussions with stakeholders for two days to identify the problems and resolve them following complaints of frequent power disruptions, low voltage and meter shortages in Nepalgunj and Surkhet areas.

The meeting with the secretary of the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, the chiefs of the provinces of Sudurpaschim, Karnali and Lumbini provinces, officials of distribution centers, people’s representatives, industrialists and locals drew to the conclusion that the supply has been affected due to the lack of feeder, transformer and other distribution equipment.

The discussion also pointed out that there was high technical pressure on Nepalgunj as the electricity transmission line is at the last point of transmission line to the west and goes to the east and the quality of old equipment was also poor and extensive upgradation of distribution network was inevitable.

Minister Shrestha’s initiative is to resolve the shortage of electricity meters in Karnali Province immediately. According to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), out of five thousand meters, the installation process has already started after supplying two thousand meters and the remaining 3,000 meters will be available within seven days.

Similarly, the ministry has said that preparations have been made to start work within the next few months by allocating necessary budget for upgrading the distribution system to resolve the problem of low voltage seen in Surkhet for long.

Necessary budget, clear action plan and infrastructure strengthening programmes would be forwarded immediately to ensure reliable, safe and quality electricity supply in the Nepalgunj area.

It was informed that it has become difficult to manage the increasing power load as the distribution system has not been upgraded for a long time. According to NEA, the electricity supply has not improved significantly after the completion of the 7th Electrification Project, demand for electricity is increasing by around 15 percent annually and due to increasing pressure in the network of Kohalpur National Transmission Line and Tanakpur supply.

Likewise, it has been concluded that the delay in the construction of the New Nepalgunj substation has been caused due to delay in the construction of feeder overload, tripping, low voltage, old line and insufficient transformer.

Minister Shrestha said that necessary coordination would be made to bring the under-construction New Nepalgunj substation into operation at the earliest, installation of transformers of additional capacity, expansion of distribution network, upgradation of old lines and conductors, construction of new feeders and effective load management would be prioritized with high priority.

He made it clear that the technical problems related to feeder overload, tripping and low voltage would be implemented immediately after carrying out a detailed study, adding that the government was serious towards the impact on people, industries and agriculture during the scorching heat.

“Creating an environment conducive for the citizens of western Nepal to get reliable, safe and quality electricity services is the government’s priority. We will work in coordination with the Ministry and Nepal Electricity Authority to resolve these problems permanently,” said Minister Shrestha.