December 24: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has cut off power supply to some large-scale industries that have failed for a long time to pay their electricity tariff for using dedicated and truck lines.    
The NEA took the measure after Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Thursday ordered the state-owned power utility to plug off the power lines and recover the tariff from them.    
The NEA had been facing public criticism for cutting off power supply of household consumers but exempting the large-scale industries. According to the NEA, power supply to Jagdamba Steel, Reliance Spinning Mills, Ghorahi Cement and Arghakhanchi Cement industries have been cut off.    
NEA sources informed that Jagdamba Steel alone has to pay tariff worth Rs 4.14 billion. Similarly, Reliance Spinning Mills has to pay Rs 1.09 billion, Ghorahi Cement has to pay Rs 1.36 billion and Arghakhanchi Cement owes Rs. 1.3 billion.    
Despite repeated calls the industries have not cleared their dues to the NEA. The latest report of the Office of the Auditor General too had instructed the NEA to collect the arrears. Furthermore, various committees of the parliament had also directed to raise the tariff immediately. -- RSS