Electricity infrastructure snag will be fixed: Energy Minister

By Our Correspondent,Nepalgunj, Sept. 28: Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Minister for Energy, Water Resource and Irrigation, has assured to solve the problems of electric poles and transformers in Narainapur of Banke district.

Minister Basnet made the assurance while addressing a welcome programme by the Ward No. 1 Office of Narainapur Rural Municipality on Wednesday. 

He had reached Narainapur to take part in a programme under the three-month transformation campaign of the CPN (Maoist Centre). 

Speaking at the programme, Narainapur's Chairman Ishtiyaq Ahmed Shah informed that the rural municipality required 1,200 electric poles and 18 transformers.

"The government will provide the required number of electric poles and transformers within a month to solve the problemme of power supply faced by the households in rural areas of Narainapur," said Minister Basnet.

According to Chairman Shah, the rural municipality could be developed further if they received support in the construction of 18 deep borings, embankment on the Rapti, Keruniya and Sauri Rivers and the completion of the Sikta Irrigation Project and establishment of an Area Administration Office in Narainapur.

Chairman Shah had handed over a memorandum letter to Minister Basnet including all the demands of the local level.

Isak Jolah, chairman of Ward No. 1 of Narainapur, requested that the deep borings be solar-powered as the area faces drought during summer's scorching heat.

Responding to the requests, Minister Basnet ascertained that the construction of the remaining parts of the main and assistant canals of the Sikta Irrigation Project, a pride project, would move forward speedily to solve the prevailing problems in agriculture.

"The government will also provide necessary support in other sectors for Narainapur's development," said Minister Basnet.

Kul Bahadur KC, CPN (Maoist Centre) central committee member and the former Chief Minister of Lumbini Province; Krishna KC 'Namuna', former minister of Lumbini; ward chairpersons; and leaders and cadres of CPN (Maoist Centre) were present at the programme.