"Industries have been facing acute power shortage due to load shedding since long. The power cut hours is even extended sometimes. We have talked to the concerned authority several times regarding this but there's no improvement," stated Pradeep Kumar Kedia, president of Birgunj branch of FNCCI. "We are facing up to 17 hours of power cut," he added.
Kedia claims that the power cut has taken serious toll on industries in Birgunj, Bara and Parsa and warned that many more industries would shut down completely if urgent attention is not paid. "We have already pushed this issue at the ministerial level, but nothing is done about it," he remarked.
He further complained that lower voltage power supply, even during hours of supply, has added to the woes faced by industrialists. "We informed the matter to concerned authorities, but they don't care," he informed adding that the situation has put the future of around 2000 industries in the corridor in risk.
Rajesh Kyal, operator of Narayani Rolling Mill stated that load shedding is even acute in Bara and Parsa districts. "Industries in Bara, and Parsa districts have been deeply affected by lack of power supply," he said. Famous industrialist Ashok Kumar Baidhya added that the government has several times been urged to bring Parwanipur - Raxaul Power Line in operation so that industries in Birgunj could benefit. "But this plan is in limbo."
Technical study of the new power transmission line from Raxaul of India to Parwanipur of Parsa was done years back. As per the agreement between the two countries - Nepal and India, the project with an estimated cost of around Rs 500 million, was scheduled to complete by 2015. However, the project remains in limbo.
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