A multi-fuel power plant installed at Tankisinwari, Morang, has been gathering dust for the last two years for want of maintenance. As a result, more than 500 industries in the Sunsari-Morang industrial zone have been dealing with load-shedding.

The electricity produced by the plant was used to stabilise voltage to ensure smooth operation of industrial equipment.

The plant has capacity of producing 39MW electricity daily. As the plant uses low-cost furnace fuel, the power it generates could be much cheaper — around Rs11 per unit.

The Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor, including households there, needs 160MW electricity.

But the supply stands at just 120MW, that too imported from India. To address the power shortage, businessmen have demanded the plant’s resumption.

Managing Director of the plant, Binod Yadav, said they made repeated requests to higher authorities for bringing back the plant into operation, but to no avail. “Out of the plant’s six units, only one is in operable condition,” said Yadav. “As the plant has been closed for long, equipment have been damaged.”

Moreover, 18 employees assigned at the plant are paid a total monthly salary of Rs800,000 without having to do any work except waiting for the plant to come into operation again.