May 21: The government has launched a special scheme to promote electricity consumption. Presenting the annual policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year at a joint meeting of both the houses of the federal parliament on Friday, President Ram Chandra Paudel announced that the households consuming as high as 50 units of electricity per month in summer would be provided the power free of cost while free electricity up to 30 units will be provided in winter.    
Currently, the households consuming 20 units of electricity are required to pay only Rs 30 per month. The new scheme is brought to increase energy demand and domestic consumption.    
Although Nepal has sufficient electricity in summer, it needs to import electricity in winter.    
The government aims to provide electricity to all Nepalis within two years. The power supply would be ensured free of cost to poor households and LP gas would be displaced gradually, said the president. The government also decided to promote use of electric stove. -- RSS