FNCCI seeks immediate solution to dispute of power dues

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Oct. 26: The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has requested all concerned bodies to resolve the dispute related to the payment of dedicated feeders and trunk lines through negotiation.

Due to the row between the Nepal Electricity Authority and a few industries over the dues of dedicated feeders and trunk lines for a long time, power supply to the industries is frequently cut, affecting production and spoiling the investment environment. 

“It is not good to cut the power supplied to the industries time and again, the NEA should immediately connect the lines cut on Thursday and find a solution to the problem through negotiation,” said the FNCCI issuing a press statement on Friday.

The Nepal Electricity Authority cut the electricity supply of 34 industries on Thursday evening citing that they did not pay the dues of electricity tariff under the dedicated and trunk lines.

According to the Authority, it was forced to disconnect the electricity supply to the industries after they did not pay the dues despite repeated notices.

On October 10, the Authority gave a 15-day deadline to 49 industries to pay their dues. Of them, only six came into contact and agreed to pay the dues in instalments, according to the NEA. Of the 49, Hetauda Cement and Udayapur Cement Industries are government-owned, and the Authority will try to coordinate with the government for reconciliation, it said.

According to Authority officials, seven industries have obtained an interim order for non-payment of dues from the court. Raghupati Jute Mills, Reliance Spinning Mills, Aarihant Multi Fibers Limited, Aarihant Polypacks Limited, Maruti Cement, United Cement and Shivam Cement have obtained the interim court order.

According to the NEA, an industry, GB Textile which received two separate meters, paid Rs. 3.5 million and Rs. 1.4 million as the first instalment on Friday. After that, the NEA reconnected its power lines on Friday itself. 

According to the FNCCI, there is a difference of opinion between the businessmen and the Nepal Electricity Authority regarding whether electricity was provided from different sources at different times and whether it was consumed or not.

"This issue has been entangled for a long time. Entrepreneurs are ready to pay additional electricity tariffs based on evidence of electricity consumption,” read the press statement of FNCCI.

Earlier, a commission was formed under the chairmanship of former Supreme Court Justice Girish Chandra Lal to end the dedicated feeder and trunk line dispute forever. However, the report submitted by the commission has not been implemented, FNCCI said. 

“The active role of the NEA is necessary to solve the problem related to the dedicated feeder and trunk lines for a long time through negotiations based on the report of the commission,” FNCCI said.