"This meeting directs the Energy Ministry to issue a warning notice with a deadline to the people in the areas where the study shows that over 60 percent of the power is stolen from the national grid," a meeting of the committee on Friday said in its four-point decision. [break]
"If the electricity theft is not controlled within the given timeframe, the ministry should take action for that and may even cut electricity supply to the areas."
A study conducted by the Nepali Electricity Authority (NEA) shows up to 82 percent of the total supply of electricity is stolen in some parts of the country.
The committee also directed the ministry to change its plan to install new thermal plants as a means to address the existing acute power shortage. The parliamentary body instead directed the ministry to bring the existing thermal plants and other hydroelectric projects in operation to their full capacity by fixing technical faults.
The present Maoist-headed government had earlier announced to install 200 MW diesel plant to address the acute power shortage. At present, the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is enforcing 14-hours power cut a day.
The committee has also instructed the government to formulate a national policy with regard to addressing the issues of displacement and rehabilitation of the people who need to be relocated from the site of the hydroelectric projects.
It has also sought details of the problems in building the 750 MW storage type West Seti Hydroelectric project and the Kabeli hydroelectric project from the ministry.
The directives were issued after listening to the views of Energy Minister Post Bahadur Bogati and top officials from the ministry earlier at the same meeting.
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