Kathmandu— Nepal’s Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, emphasized the need for a more systematic, reliable, and effective power supply system within Koshi Province during a visit on Tuesday. The minister held discussions with Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) officials, local representatives, and concerned stakeholders to identify problems in electricity delivery and ensure public grievances are addressed. He directed authorities to prioritize prompt resolution of issues and improve complaint management to build citizen trust.

Focus on Consumption Increase

Minister Shrestha urged the development of a system for quickly resolving power supply problems and addressing complaints without delay, noting that effective communication and complaint handling would bolster public confidence. He also stressed the importance of effectively implementing creative plans proposed by distribution centers based on local needs. Rajan Dhakal, Deputy Executive Director of the NEA and Chief of the Distribution and Customer Service Directorate, indicated there is potential to further increase electricity consumption in Koshi Province despite already high demand from industrial and domestic sectors.

Budget Allocation for System Improvements

The government has allocated a sufficient budget for improving transmission and distribution systems during the current fiscal year. Minister Shrestha directed NEA authorities to develop an implementation plan and begin executing it promptly. Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Sarita Dawadi, stated that targeted improvements in the distribution system could lead to significant gains in sustainable and quality power service delivery.

NEA Performance Expectations

Acting Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority, Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha, acknowledged high public expectations and called for further improvement in NEA performance. Members of Parliament representing Morang and Sunsari—Deepak Sah, Sirjana Shrestha, Rubina Acharya, among others—also voiced suggestions to improve electricity service delivery according to citizen needs, emphasizing the need to address local infrastructure problems and ensure reliable access.

The Ministry of Energy expects that these combined efforts will lead to a more robust and responsive power system in Koshi Province, better serving both industrial and domestic consumers.

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.