As per the new schedule, the NEA will cut power for 12 hours a day, six days a week, including 10 hours on a single day during the week, according to its notice published on Sunday. The schedule will be applicable across the country, excluding some districts in the mid and far-western development regions, where electricity is supplied from Tanakpur transmission. The power supply from the Tanakpur transmission is five percent of the total national power consumption.
The NEA earlier extended power cuts to 70 hrs a week on December 18. The public utility has cited decreasing water levels in the rivers as the major reason forcing it to increase load-shedding hours. Water levels in Kulekhani, the only storage-type hydro project in operation in the country, have remained at a record low this season.
Though Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal inaugurated the 70 MW (megawatt) Middle Marsyangdi Hydro Project in the second week this month, the project has failed to generate electricity so far.
The government declared a state of ´national power crisis´ on Friday, citing a severe power shortage in the country, further warning the public that blackouts would eventually be increased to at least 16 hours per day.
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