In response to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) cutting power to industries with unpaid dues, 12 industries have begun repaying their arrears in installments. On the night of October 24, the NEA disconnected power to 34 industries due to their failure to settle outstanding payments for dedicated and trunk line services.
NEA Spokesperson Chandan Kumar Ghosh informed that these industries, including Sarbottam Cement and Rolpa Cement, which have significant arrears, are now taking steps to pay off their debts to the NEA. He emphasized that the situation between the industrialists and the NEA should not be viewed as a conflict.
“The authority is simply fulfilling its responsibilities as mandated by the NEA Board of Directors (BoD) three months ago,” Ghosh told Republica. “Interpreting this action as the NEA challenging the government would be incorrect.” He noted that if the BoD hadn’t imposed a three-month deadline for settling arrears, the NEA wouldn’t have had to cut power to the 34 industries.
Ghosh also remarked that the seven industries previously exempted from paying arrears by a Supreme Court ruling should face the same repercussions as the others. “Our concern is that these seven industries have been shielded from disconnection from the national power grid,” he stated. “The NEA believes all industries with outstanding dues should be treated equally.” He added that the NEA is considering appealing the court’s decision.
Among those industries, Sarbottam Cement owes Rs 110 million, while Rolpa Cement has Rs 9.9 million in dues. Samrat Cement, with outstanding dues of Rs 37.77 million, has also started making payments. Other industries with arrears include Shubhashree Agni Cement (Rs 9.881 million), GB Textiles (Rs 4.9 million), Narayan Rubber Industries (Rs 1 million), Binayak Ispat Pvt Ltd (Rs 752,000), Nawa Nepal Plastic Industries (Rs 205,000), Subhalaxmi Polymers (Rs 378,000), National Rubber Industries (Rs 59,000), and AG Health Industries (Rs 76,000).
