The lines of six industries that did not pay the electricity bills for using dedicated and trunk lines have been cut.

Rajan Dhakal, spokesperson of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), said that the electricity supply of Jagadamba Steel, Reliance Spinning Mills, Shivam Cement, Ghorahi Cement, Arghakhanchi Cement, and Triveni Spinning Mills have been cut due to unpaid electricity bills.

According to spokesperson Dhakal, the power supply to these industries has been cut off since Sunday morning. 

The issue of collecting electricity tariff for using dedicated and trunk lines has not been resolved since 2018. 

For the first time, a study on the arrears of tariffs from dedicated and trunk lines was conducted under the coordination of the then member of NEA board of directors, Bhakta Bahadur Pun and a report presented to the board meeting held on 14 May 2018.

The NEA has been making efforts to realise the electricity dues from the defaulting companies since that time.

Industrial entrepreneurs have, however, said that they do not pay the charges because they have not used dedicated or trunk lines.

This matter had reached various courts, the Public Accounts Committee of the Federal Parliament, and the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).

Last time, the NEA issued a public notice on September 28, asking the industries to pay the arrears within 21 days.

NEA had given the defaulting companies and industries the facility to pay the dues in installments. It stated that the electricity supply to the six industries was disconnected as per the Electricity Tariff Collection Regulations 2078 after they failed to pay the tariff within that period.