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Disruption in power supply due to glitches, construction works
The Kathmandu Valley, which has not seen power outages for a few months now, has once again started witnessing disruption in electricity supply in certain areas, albeit Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has clearly said those power cuts do not imply loadshedding has returned to the Capital.The Kathmandu Valley, which has not seen power outages for a few months now, has once again started witnessing disruption in electricity supply in certain areas, albeit Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has clearly said those power cuts do not imply loadshedding has returned to the Capital.
According to NEA, the state-owned power utility, a number of cases related to power outages has been reported due to technical glitches and problems in transformers. Also, activities like road expansion and laying of pipeline by the Melamchi Drinking Water Supply Project have caused damage to wires that transport electricity, preventing NEA from delivering continuous electricity supply in the Valley.
Similar problems are now being seen in some of the places outside the Valley, where load-shedding hours have significantly gone down.
“Industries located in the industrial corridor in Parsa have been facing severe shortage of power, although the Energy Ministry has been saying load-shedding hours have been reduced,” Pashupati Murarka, president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, told a gathering in Parsa on Friday. “This has added to the woes of industrialists, who were badly hit by last year’s Tarai agitation.”
NEA has said the ongoing process of charging Khimti-Dhalkebhar transmission line and works to upgrade Dhalkhebhar transmission line to double circuit, among others, have prevented it from ensuring smooth supply of electricity in some of the pockets of central and eastern regions.
“So, the problem is not related to ineffective management of demand and supply,” said NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghishing, who is credited for eliminating load-shedding from the Valley. “But at times power supply gets disrupted because of technical glitches.”
Hydroelectricity generation in the country has currently dipped by over 50 percent as water level in most of the river basins has started falling due to the onset of dry season. While electricity production has gone down, power consumption has gone up due to greater use of electric heaters and geysers during winter.
Yet NEA has so far managed to cater to the needs of people by importing power from India. However, NEA has urged consumers to reduce use of electricity during the peak power consumption hours by avoiding use of energy-guzzling electronic appliances. It has also urged industries to shut down their operations during those peak hours.
Recently, NEA’s Bhairahawa distribution centre issued a statement directing industries to shut down operation from 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
It has even warned to take action if they fail to abide by the directive.