Severe power shortage hits industries hard

BIRGUNJ:

The severe power outage has badly affected industries, especially in the Birgunj-Pathlaiya corridor.Owing to this grave energy crisis, industrialists, entrepreneurs and the civil society have urged the state to take special measures to ensure regular power supply.There are some 2,000 factories — big and small — in this corridor.

In addition to load shedding, lack of investment-friendly atmosphere, frequent strikes, and labour conflicts are hindering industrial activities, said Chairman of Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Pradip Kediya, adding that the concerned stakeholders, including the state, need to formulate immediate and long-term work plans to address this crisis.

According to him, once industrial activities shrink, wealth goes unused. The government also loses hundreds of millions in revenue and hundreds of people become jobless. So, the government must mull an alternative measure for this, he suggested.

Similarly, Nepal Electricity Authority’s Distribution Centre, Birgunj, said currently, 20 MVA of electricity could be imported and used in the industries, which would duly address the load shedding crisis. But the government is the ultimate authority for this.

Even Munna Sharaf, an engineer, said that technically, the import of 20 MVA electricity would address the current problem.

Likewise, former chairman of Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ashok Baidya, said 132 KV transmission line from Raxaul to Parwanipur could be constructed to import more electricity.

The electricity generation that began with the Pharping Hydropower 100 years ago in Nepal, is limited to a mere 550 MW from Nepal Electricity Authority (government side) with 160 MW from private investors till date, despite huge water resources in the country.

Interestingly, Nepal and Japan had initiated hydropower development in the same year. But Japan has made tremendous progress, while Nepal has meagre production, a setback to the industrial development.

Moreover, a small country of South Asia, Bhutan, has also exceeded Nepal in hydropower production.

Source: THT