KATHMANDU: Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung has stated that disregarding Cabinet decisions is inexcusable.
Speaking on Monday, Minister Gurung said that the Nepal Electricity Authority has no choice but to implement the government’s directives on the dedicated feeder and trunkline tariff disputes.
Minister Gurung’s comments followed a warning from NEA employee unions, who threatened to protest if lines were reconnected to industries without recovering dues.
In response, Gurung stated, “While employees may express opinions, refusing to implement government decisions is unacceptable.”
The government recently directed the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation to restore electricity lines within 24 hours for industries affected by tariff disputes, citing negative impacts on production, employment, and the economy.
“As the electricity supply to customers using electricity from dedicated feeders and trunklines has been cut due to disputes over electricity tariffs, production has decreased, employment of workers working in industries has been directly affected, and the overall economy has been affected, the Ministry of Industry, Water Resources and Irrigation has been instructed to make arrangements to connect the power lines to industries whose power supply was cut within 24 hours,” he said.
Meanwhile, the managing director of the NEA, Kulman Ghising, has also taken a stand that the lines will not be connected until the dues are paid.
Previously, he had also taken a stand, challenging the government’s decision. There is ongoing opposition, alleging that the government is attempting to remove Kulman from the Authority.
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