Kathmandu: The government has approved a comprehensive plan to address the ongoing dispute over electricity tariffs with industries that have failed to settle their bills for power consumed through dedicated lines. A special committee, led by former Supreme Court Justice Girish Chandra Lal, has been formed to resolve the issue surrounding the electricity tariffs for customers using dedicated feeders and trunk lines. The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation has been authorized to implement the resolution.

The decision was made during a Cabinet meeting held on Sunday at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar. As part of the resolution process, the government has approved the release of the report submitted by the Inquiry Commission on May 5, 2024. The Ministry of Energy has been tasked with making the report public, as confirmed by Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, who also serves as the government’s spokesperson.

One of the key decisions from the Cabinet was to address the economic impact caused by the suspension of electricity supply to industries. Recognizing the disruption to production, revenue generation, and employment, the government directed the Ministry of Energy to reconnect electricity lines to affected industries within 24 hours. The reconnection aims to mitigate the adverse effects on the economy caused by the power cuts.

Additionally, the government has set a 15-day deadline for industries using dedicated and trunk lines to clear their overdue electricity bills, based on actual electricity consumption. This move is intended to expedite the recovery of outstanding dues and restore normalcy to industrial operations.

The government’s actions reflect its commitment to resolving the ongoing electricity tariff dispute while minimizing the economic impact on affected industries.