KATHMANDU: Four industries in Bhairahawa have cleared their outstanding dues for dedicated and trunk line feeders, including a 25 percent fine.
While large industries, in collusion with political parties and the administration, remain reluctant to settle their dues, small and medium-scale industries in Bhairahawa have taken the lead in clearing their payments.
Yashoda Foods Pvt. Ltd paid Rs 425,231, Jai Durga Plastic Factory paid Rs 70,532, Sona Packaging paid Rs 35,537, and Sona Polymers Industries paid Rs 346,389.
These amounts include a 25 percent fine.
Reports suggest that these industries were under pressure from businessmen to delay clearing their dues.
According to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), 57 large-scale industries still owe a total of Rs 8,047,400,239.
These industries have been lobbying with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to remove NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising, in an effort to avoid settling their dues.
Under the direction of PM Oli and at the request of the businessmen, Energy Minister Deepak Khadka has already relieved two members of the NEA operations committee who opposed the government’s order to reconnect power supplies to industries with outstanding payments.
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