Kathmandu, Aug 27: Chairman of the main opposition CPN (Maoist Centre) Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has challenged the government asking it to secure Cabinet approval for the connection of Rs 22 billion in outstanding electricity tariffs from industrialists.
Addressing today’s meeting of the House of Representatives, he said that the Prime Minister should get the decision approved through the Cabinet instead of proposing it on social media.
“The Prime Minister has also asked on Facebook why Rs 21.8 billion in electricity tariff was not collected for nine years. The Prime Minister, who has the right intentions, should ask this question from the Cabinet. The Prime Minister is in the position of answering this question,” he said, “Who caused this controversy by not allowing the Nepal Electricity Authority to function independently?”
Reminding that a study committee formed on 14 May, 2018 by the Authority on the issue reported that 61 industries did not pay the tariff for using electricity supplied through trunk and dedicated lines, the former Prime Minister added, “Electricity was cut off to some industries for not paying the tariff. But the process halted halfway. Who is the person who has given a straight direction in reconnecting electricity line?” PM Oli is the person who did so, he accused.
He also objected to the reported efforts of dismissing the existing executive director of the Authority Kulman Ghising by asking for a seven-day clarification through the Council of Ministers for disconnecting electricity lines to the industries refusing to pay off the tariff.
